Domain names (such as gsa.gov) are used in websites and e-mail addresses to uniquely identify computers and networks. The domain name is the core of an organization's or program's Internet identity, their online brand. Managed domain names require the holder of that name to meet certain eligibility requirements. These strict authorization standards help ensure users that they are accessing an official site. Managed domain names include .gov, -NSN.gov, and .fed.US.

Eligibility for .gov
To preserve the integrity of the .gov name space, .gov domains are limited to United States government organizations at the federal, Native Sovereign Nation, state, and local level, and U.S. territories.

Registrations that qualify for a .gov domain

• U.S. Governmental departments, programs, and agencies on the federal level
• Federally recognized Indian Tribes (-NSN.gov domain)
• State governmental entities/programs
• Cities and townships represented by an elected body of officials
• Counties and parishes represented by an elected body of officials
• U.S. territories

Registrations that do not qualify for a .gov domain

• International organizations
• Commercial firms
• Privately owned organizations
• Military entities (except in special cases)
• Local (e.g., city, county, township, or parish) government programs or initiatives
• Cities, townships, counties, parishes, and other local entities that are not represented by an elected body of officials

Ineligible Government Programs
Government programs at the local level (city/township or county/parish) are not eligible for a second-level .gov domain name. Examples of such programs include local police and fire departments, port authorities, parks, libraries, and councils of governments. Such programs should request a third-level domain name from their official state or local government. In most cases, this request can be initiated through the webmaster, or other listed point of contact, for the domain in question.

Eligibility for .fed.US
The .fed.US domain is limited to United States Federal Government cabinet-level agencies.

Registrations that qualify for a .fed.US domain

• Cabinet-level U.S. governmental entities.

Registrations that do not qualify for a .fed.US domain:

• Non-cabinet-level U.S. governmental entities
• State and local government organizations
• International organizations
• Commercial firms
• Privately owned organizations
• Military entities

To review the full policy, refer to RFC 1480.

Eligibility for .US
State and local governments also have the opportunity to register their names directly in the .US domain, the country-code, top-level domain uniquely associated with the United States. NeuStar, Inc., manages this domain under a contract awarded by the U.S. Department of Commerce. For information about registering your state or local government name in the .US domain, please see the following website http://www.neustar.us/reserved/state/index.html (Note: this link will open a new browser window and leave this site.) .