CUs scoop dot-coop domains

April 11, 2003—Once again, credit unions are setting the pace within the cooperative community—this time when it comes to registering the new cooperative-specific top level Internet domains.

In January 2002, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers approved a number of new Internet domains (the letters that follow the dot in Web site addresses, i.e., .com and .org) for release. Among them were two domain types available only to qualified organizations: .coop and .museum.

And so, the preferred Internet address for cooperatives was born. Since then, 1,400 credit unions have purchased a .coop address through the National Cooperative Business Association, the official sponsor of the domain. According to Jeannine Kenney, the NCBA’s director of communications, that’s more than any other single type of cooperative, and a big chunk of the total 8,000 names that have been purchased.

The .coop domains cost more to register than do the original, open domains like .org—normally $99 per year versus $35 per year for a generic domain through Network Solutions. But from now through June 10, credit unions can register a .coop domain for half price, $49.50 per year, for a minimum of two years.

Kenney says the higher cost is both a function of the additional verification procedures that have had to be designed to be sure only cooperatives are found at .coop addresses, as well as the smaller population of potential buyers over which to spread the fixed costs of administering the domain. Only an estimated 750,000 cooperative organizations worldwide qualify to register .coop domains, as opposed to the unlimited .com registrants.

Credit unions interested in taking advantage of the half price offer should visit www.coop. After verifying that the name you wish to register is available, you may then select a company to register it through. Kenney recommends U.S. credit unions choose Poptel as their registrar.