GeoTLD Group in cooperation with ICANN launches the GeoTLD Universal Acceptance (UA) Local Initiative
The GeoTLD Group is excited to announce the official launch of the GeoTLD Universal Acceptance (UA) Local Initiative. The UA Local Initiative, developed in cooperation with ICANN, provides a platform to actively support geoTLD registries and their local stakeholders in organising Universal Acceptance (UA) training and outreach within their respective cities, areas, or regions.
Universal Acceptance (UA) refers to the principle that all valid domain names and email addresses – regardless of script, length, or format – should be accepted, validated, stored, processed, and displayed correctly by all internet-enabled applications, devices, and systems.
UA is of critical concern to geoTLD registries and their local stakeholders. GeoTLDs are top-level domain (TLD) extensions based on a geographic name, geographic identifier, geographic origin or cultural community, created with the purpose of serving their respective region. They play a key role in promoting local digital identities of cities, regions, languages, or cultures on the internet. Achieving UA guarantees that language-specific characters in domain names and email addresses, as well as the use of TLDs that extend beyond the two- or three-character format are seamlessly supported.
GeoTLD UA Local Initiative
Universal Acceptance (UA) and geoTLDs support a common goal: ensuring that everyone can navigate and communicate on the internet using the domain name and email address that best aligns with their interests, identity, business, culture, and language. The GeoTLD UA Local Initiative helps geoTLDs to organise UA activities and outreach customised and tailored to local needs, and address local demand for training. It promotes the cooperation between GeoTLD registries and their local stakeholders on UA and the organisation of UA events and training in the local language.
The UA workshop in Strasbourg on 20 March, organised by the .alsace registry, was the first event supported under the GeoTLD UA Local Initiative.
Visit the dedicated GeoTLD UA Local Initiative webpage for updates, resources, and information on past and upcoming initiatives in other regions.