The Internet uses the Domain Name System to associate numeric computer IP addresses with human readable names. The top level of the domain name hierarchy, the DNS root, contains the top-level domains that appear as the suffixes of all Internet domain names. The most widely used DNS root is administered by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. In addition, several organizations operate alternative DNS roots, often referred to as alt roots. These alternative domain name systems operate their own root nameservers and commonly administer their own specific name spaces consisting of custom top-level domains. The Internet Architecture Board has spoken out strongly against alternate roots in.
Description
The DNS root zone consists of pointers to the authoritative domain name servers for all TLDs. The root zone is hosted on a collection of root servers operated by several organizations around the world that all use a specific, approved list of domains that is managed by ICANN. By contrast, alternative roots typically include pointers to all of the TLD servers for domains delegated by ICANN, as well as name servers for other, custom top-level domains that are not sanctioned by ICANN. Some alternate roots are operated by the organizations that manage these alternative TLDs. Zach Bastick proposes that alternative DNS roots have allowed for more democratic control of the Internet:
"The implementation of alternative gTLDs predates any significant debate on name space extension by official actors, and this exemplifies how democratising the DNS alters the pace of developing Internet policy, the nature of decisions that justify that policy development, and political dynamics and user autonomy in the network infrastructure."
New Nations provides domains to nation-states or regional efforts that are not listed in the ISO 3166-1 standard and therefore do not have a ccTLD delegated to them. Examples are.ko,.ku,.te,.ti, and.uu. Domain name resolution is provided by a peering agreement with OpenNIC or New Nations' own DNS servers.
OpenNIC
OpenNIC is a user owned and controlled alternative to InterNIC and ICANN providing a non-national democratic alternative to traditional domain registries. OpenNIC servers are able to resolve all ICANN top-level domains, some OpenNIC original top-level domains, and the resolution of other Alternate DNS Roots with which they have reached peering agreements.
Yeti DNS Project is an attempt to build an alternative root server dedicated to IPv6. Sponsored by Chinese state agency, the project aim at experimenting different DNS-related new technology and enable sovereign countries to explore and control the internet and enhance their network sovereignty.
.chn
.chn is a new top-level domain with its own root DNS server for Internet of Things network in China. The company that develop the alternative root claim China have its own intellectual right on this new alternative domain name and the associated IoT network, and that it will become the second computer network in the world. It is reportedly part of the "IPv9" decimal network/numeric domain name system developed and innovated in China.
Open Root Server Network was a network of Domain Name System root nameservers for the Internet. ORSN root zone information was normally kept in synchronization with the "official" root nameservers coordinated by ICANN. ORSN Public DNS Servers were operated by the community of ORSN, providing Domain Name System access freely for everyone, without any limitation. ORSN public DNS servers did not log usage. "The ORSN project was canceled on May 2019 and will never come back."
AlterNIC
AlterNIC was created before ICANN's creation to challenge the monopoly of InterNIC on domain name governance at the time.
eDNS
eDNS was founded by a coalition of ISPs led by Karl Denninger of the Chicago-area MCSNet. It ceased operation in 1998. It served the following domains: biz, corp, fam, k12, npo, per, web.
Open RSC
One of the notable challengers to ICANN's control of the DNS namespace was Open RSC, a group that grew out of private discussions and developed into a public mailing list. It grew large enough that the group decided to submit an application to the United States government to run the DNS. The organization posted bylaws and articles of incorporation outlining ORSC's position following extensive public discussion regarding the manner in which the DNS was operated. ICANN chairwoman Esther Dyson acknowledged adopting features such as membership from ORSC in her response to the United States Department of Commerce. ORSC publishes a root zone containing additional top level domains not found in the ICANN root zone.
Microsoft offered the RealNames service on its Internet Explorer browser address bar. RealNames, to users of Internet Explorer, was in effect a domain registry. RealNames shut down operations in 2002 following a decision by Microsoft to redirect the 1 billion page views per calendar quarter that RealNames was resolving from the browser address bar into its MSN search engine.
