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'''.net''' is a [[gTLD|generic top-level domain]] in the Internet [[DNS|Domain Name System]] managed and operated by [[Verisign]],  a recognized leader in internet security and performance structure.<ref>[http://www.verisigninc.com/en_US/products-and-services/domain-name-services/registry-services/net-domain-names/index.xhtml VeriSign]</ref> At present, .net is the world's third most-registered [[TLD|top-level domain]], with Germany's [[ccTLD]], [[.de]], in second place.<ref>[http://www.verisigninc.com/assets/domain-name-report-feb-2011.pdf The Domain Name Industry Brief]</ref><ref>[https://icannwiki.org/Domain_Statistics DomainStatistics, ICANNWiki.com]</ref><ref>[http://www.denic.de/ DENIC.de]</ref>

'''.net''' is a [[gTLD|generic top-level domain]] in the Internet [[DNS|Domain Name System]] managed and operated by [[Verisign]],  a recognized leader in Internet security and performance structure.<ref>[http://www.verisigninc.com/en_US/products-and-services/domain-name-services/registry-services/net-domain-names/index.xhtml VeriSign]</ref> At present, .net is the world's third most-registered [[TLD|top-level domain]], with Germany's [[ccTLD]], [[.de]], in second place.<ref>[http://www.verisigninc.com/assets/domain-name-report-feb-2011.pdf The Domain Name Industry Brief]</ref><ref>[https://icannwiki.org/Domain_Statistics DomainStatistics, ICANNWiki.com]</ref><ref>[http://www.denic.de/ DENIC.de]</ref>

Verisign has been running [[.com]] and .net with 100% operational accuracy and stability for more than 15 years.<ref>[http://www.verisigninc.com/en_US/why-verisign/education-center/domain-names/index.xhtml Domain Names, VerisignInc.com]</ref>  By the end of quarter 2 of 2012, Verisign had 240 million domain names over all of the TLDs it operates, with .com and .net holding 49% of the TLD market share, a drop of 2% from quarter 1.<ref>[http://www.trefis.com/stock/vrsn/articles/146666/verisigns-dropping-com-and-net-is-a-troubling-trend/2012-10-03 Verisign’s Dropping .com And .net Is A Troubling Trend, trefis.com]</ref>

Verisign has been running [[.com]] and .net with 100% operational accuracy and stability for more than 15 years.<ref>[http://www.verisigninc.com/en_US/why-verisign/education-center/domain-names/index.xhtml Domain Names, VerisignInc.com]</ref>  By the end of quarter 2 of 2012, Verisign had 240 million domain names over all of the TLDs it operates, with .com and .net holding 49% of the TLD market share, a drop of 2% from quarter 1.<ref>[http://www.trefis.com/stock/vrsn/articles/146666/verisigns-dropping-com-and-net-is-a-troubling-trend/2012-10-03 Verisign’s Dropping .com And .net Is A Troubling Trend, trefis.com]</ref>

===History===

===History===

.net was originally intended for internet-referential purposes, though there are no current restrictions limiting it to certain entities. It was introduced in 1985 by [[IANA]], which is responsible for the overall coordination and management of the DNS; the organization was led by [[Jon Postel]] at the time. On January 28, 1986, the entities overseeing the DNS met and restructured its makeup to correspond to 8 TLDs, including .net, the others are: [[.gov]] (government), [[.edu ]] (American higher education), [[.mil]] (American military), [[.org]] (organization), [[.int]] (international, specifically NATO relations), [[.com]] (commercial purposes), [[.bitnet]] (computers on the BITNET network).<ref>[http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc920#page-2 RFC 920]</ref><ref>[http://www.livinginternet.com/i/iw_dns_name.htm IW DNS name, LivingInternet.com]</ref>

.net was originally intended for Internet-referential purposes, though there are no current restrictions limiting it to certain entities. It was introduced in 1985 by [[IANA]], which is responsible for the overall coordination and management of the DNS; the organization was led by [[Jon Postel]] at the time. On January 28, 1986, the entities overseeing the DNS met and restructured its makeup to correspond to 8 TLDs, including .net, the others are: [[.gov]] (government), [[.edu ]] (American higher education), [[.mil]] (American military), [[.org]] (organization), [[.int]] (international, specifically NATO relations), [[.com]] (commercial purposes), [[.bitnet]] (computers on the BITNET network).<ref>[http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc920#page-2 RFC 920]</ref><ref>[http://www.livingInternet.com/i/iw_dns_name.htm IW DNS name, LivingInternet.com]</ref>

[[ICANN]] approved [[Verisign]]'s application to be the registry operator of the .net top-level domain name on May 25, 2001.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/tlds/agreements/verisign/net-index.htm ICANN]</ref> The .net agreement was most recently renewed in June, 2011, for another 6 years. It was a presumptive renewal given that Verisign only had to prove that it was meeting certain criteria to receive approval.<ref>[http://www.thedomains.com/2011/06/23/icann-approves-the-renewal-of-net-contract-with-verisign/ ICANN Approves The Renewal of Net Contract with Verisign, TheDomains.com]</ref>

[[ICANN]] approved [[Verisign]]'s application to be the registry operator of the .net top-level domain name on May 25, 2001.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/tlds/agreements/verisign/net-index.htm ICANN]</ref> The .net agreement was most recently renewed in June, 2011, for another 6 years. It was a presumptive renewal given that Verisign only had to prove that it was meeting certain criteria to receive approval.<ref>[http://www.thedomains.com/2011/06/23/icann-approves-the-renewal-of-net-contract-with-verisign/ ICANN Approves The Renewal of Net Contract with Verisign, TheDomains.com]</ref>