Domain Names

Purpose

This policy establishes the process, rules and responsibilities for the request, renewal and approval of second-level Internet domain names across the Department of Commerce (DOC).

Background

The Department of Commerce uses the Internet to provide its customers with high-quality online products and services.  As part of that commitment, the Department must ensure that the public remains confident about the sites they are visiting and the reliability of the information and services being provided through Commerce’s websites and other online services.  Instilling that confidence is achieved in part by using recognizable domain names that represent official outlets for government information and directly support the agency’s mission.

GSA/OMB Policies

In March 2003, the General Services Administration (GSA) issued Final Management Regulation (FMR) 41 CFR Part 102-173, which provides government-wide policy for the registration of .gov domain names and replaced the Internet Engineering Task Force Informational RFC 2146.  In accordance with FMR 41 CFR Part 102-173, domain names must be authorized by the Chief Information Officer (CIO) of the requesting or sponsoring government organization.  Thus, final approval for the use of domain names within the Department of Commerce resides with the Commerce CIO.   

In addition, on  June 9, 2004 the Interagency Committee on Government Information made recommendations to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regarding domain names as required by the E-Government Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-347, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 36).  As a result, OMB issued the previously referenced memorandum M-05-04, Policies for Federal Agency Public Websites, on December 17, 2004, requiring the use of approved government domain names.

More recently, on June 13, 2011, a .gov reform effort began as part the President’s Campaign to Cut Waste.  The focus of the reform is to identify unnecessary websites that can be consolidated to reduce costs and improve the quality of service to the American public. This effort led to the development of a federal Web strategy, which was merged with the federal mobility strategy to create the Digital Government Strategy, issued on May 23, 2012. This broader initiative focuses not only on domain name and website consolidation, but also on innovating with less and delivering better quality content and information to the public across multiple platforms and devices.

Scope

This policy applies to all second-level domain names registered to the Department of Commerce.

Policy

Department of Commerce Domain Names

    • As established by Final Management Regulation (FMR) 41 CFR Part 102-173 and in accordance with Office of Management and Budget (OMB) memorandum M-05-04, all Department of Commerce domain names shall adhere to federal domain naming conventions, i.e., .gov, .mil, or .fed.us.  Unless approved by the Secretary of Commerce, the use of .com, .org, .edu, .net, .biz, .tv, or other domains is prohibited.
    • Per FMR 41 CFR Part 102-173, requests for new domain names must be approved by the CIO.  Requests must be submitted through an operating unit CIO by filling out the Commerce domain name checklist and submitting it to the Commerce Registrar for final approval from the Commerce CIO.
    • Following GSA registration procedures, all Commerce domains must have three associated points of contact (administrative, billing, and technical).  It is the responsibility of the operating units to ensure that the information provided to GSA for each domain point of contact remains current. 
    • The need for retaining existing domain names may be reassessed at any time, and will be routinely reassessed as domain names come up for renewal.  Domain name owners are required to revalidate compliance with other applicable policies and requirements (e.g., website policies, DNSSEC) and may be asked to resubmit the Commerce domain name checklist to update information contained therein.  Past approval of a domain name does not guarantee continued future approvals. 

Content Considerations

Waivers

Waivers to this policy may only be granted under the following conditions:

    • Per OMB memo M-05-04 on Policies for Federal Agency Public Websites, waivers for non-.gov domain names (such as .com, .org, .edu, .net, .biz, .tv, etc.) must be approved by the Secretary of Commerce.  Prior to registering any non-.gov Domain names, the requesting operating unit CIO must send a request to the Commerce Registrar for approval by the Commerce CIO.  If the request is approved, the Commerce CIO will request the waiver from the Commerce Secretary.  Approved non-.gov domains must only be used as either a redirect to services that provide official government information on an approved .gov domain name or to services covered under other formal terms of service agreement.  This requirement also applies to the rare exceptions where the use of a non-.gov domain name is determined to be necessary to avoid misuse of a Commerce domain name.
    • Each approved Commerce-sponsored non-.gov domain name registered with a domain name registrar other than GSA shall have an appropriate Commerce federal employee designated as its administrative contact. The administrative contact for each non-.gov domain name shall be reported to the Commerce Domain Name Registrar annually or upon any change in contact or contact information.
    • Waivers for non-.gov domain names will remain in effect until the domain name is decommissioned, no longer serves its originally intended purpose, no longer complies with this policy, or is revoked by the Secretary of Commerce.

Effective Date

April 23, 2013.

Roles and Responsibilities

Secretary of Commerce

The Secretary of Commerce, as the Department’s executive leader, is responsible for approving waivers for the use of non-.gov domain names (such as .com, .org, .net, .edu, .biz, .tv, etc.) as required by the Office of Management and Budget memorandum M-05-04, Policies for Federal Agency Public Websites, pursuant to E-Government Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-347, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 36).

    • The Secretary of Commerce explicitly determines whether the use of another domain (non-.gov) for an Internet-based service is necessary for the proper performance of an agency function and may grant a waiver for such use of non-.gov domain names based on this determination.

Commerce Director of Public Affairs

    • The Commerce Director of Public Affairs, with the concurrence of the Chief Information Officer, can make recommendations for approval/disapproval of Commerce domain names. 
    • The Commerce Director of Public Affairs may delegate this authority to the Commerce Director of Digital Strategy.

Commerce Chief Information Officer
The Commerce CIO has the authority to:

    • Approve requests for new .gov domain names, or requests to maintain existing ones.
    • Require the retirement of any approved domain name and any Commerce-owned domain name that has previously been granted a waiver when it is in the best interests of the Department.
    • Require the immediate shutdown of any Commerce website or other Internet-based service not in compliance with this policy.
    • Request payment for registration of .GOV domain names from the sponsoring operating unit if the Office of the CIO is paying on behalf of that organization, or to require that the sponsoring operating unit pays the required fees directly to GSA.
    • Communicate with GSA information concerning Commerce-approved waivers to FMR 41 CFR Part 102-173 and RFC 2146.
    • Request a waiver to the Federal Internet domain naming convention restrictions at the direction of the Department of Commerce Secretary and on behalf of the Department of Commerce.

Commerce E-Government (E-Gov) Team
The Commerce E-Government Team is responsible for supporting and overseeing the Commerce Web presence.

    • The E-Gov Team will review and analyze all domain requests, renewals and waivers.
    • The E-Gov Team will communicate with the domain points of contact concerning registration, expiration dates, domain request and renewal forms as well as other administrative domain matters.
    • The E-Gov Team can make recommendations for approval/disapproval of Commerce domain names.
    • A member of the E-Gov Team will serve as the Commerce Domain Name Registrar.

Commerce Domain Name Registrar
The Commerce Domain Name Registrar function is the focal point for working with the operating units on new domain name requests, renewals and waivers and for maintaining the Commerce domain name inventory.

    • The Commerce Domain Name Registrar will be the Commerce OCIO contact for all .gov domain names owned by the Department.
    • The Commerce Domain Name Registrar will maintain a master list/inventory of all Commerce domain names, to include any waivers for non-.gov domains approved by the Secretary of Commerce.
    • The Commerce Domain Name Registrar shall maintain new domain and waiver requests and renewal forms on files.
    • The Commerce Domain Name Registrar shall notify the operating unit CIOs and administrative and technical POCs of any compliance issues or decisions made by the Commerce CIO to eliminate or transfer a domain name and will work with the operating unit POCs to develop a plan of action to bring the domain name or its content into compliance or to eliminate or transfer it to another agency as appropriate.

Operating Unit CIOs
Operating unit CIOs are responsible for ensuring that their corresponding domain names, websites and other Internet-based services comply with all applicable federal and Commerce policies and regulations, represent the best solution for the proposed Internet-based service, and align with the Department’s mission and ongoing efforts to streamline and improve its online presence.

    • Operating unit CIOs shall approve all .gov domain name requests, renewals, waivers and retirement of domain names at the operating-unit level prior to submitting requests to the Commerce Domain Name Registrar for approval by the Department CIO. 
    • Operating unit CIOs shall submit all new domain name and waiver requests to the Commerce Domain Name Registrar during the planning stages of the proposed Internet service.
    • Operating unit CIOs shall submit renewal request for existing domain names to the Department’s Office of the CIO at least six weeks before the domain name in question is set to expire.
    • Operating unit CIOs may communicate with GSA regarding their corresponding domain names, expiration dates, points of contact and other administrative domain name matters.  All domain name registrations and renewals must be approved by the Department’s CIO. 
    • Operating unit CIOs may contact GSA to eliminate or transfer to other agencies domain names managed by their respective operating units.  However, all eliminations or transfers should be reported to the Commerce Domain Name Registrar.

Operating Unit POCs

    • Operating unit .gov domain name POCs shall register all approved .gov domain names directly through GSA.
    • Operating unit .gov domain name POCs shall pay the required domain name fees directly to GSA or to the Commerce Office of the CIO as appropriate.
    • Operating unit .gov domain name POCs shall ensure that their GSA domain name POC record remains current.
    • Operating unit .gov domain name POCs shall provide a plan of action to the DOC Domain Name Registrar for any domain name identified for consolidation, elimination or transfer to another agency by the Commerce CIO.
    • Operating unit domain name POCs shall inform the Commerce Domain Name Registrar of any decisions made at the operating-unit level to eliminate or transfer a domain name and of any changes to the GSA POC record or POC changes for any non-.gov domain name.

Additional Guidance

Commerce Contacts for Additional Information

    • Linel Soto, Commerce Domain Name Registrar, E-Gov Analyst, Office of IT Policy and Planning, OCIO (202-482-4990 or lsoto@doc.gov)
    • Jennifer Jessup, E-Gov Team Lead, Office of IT Policy and Planning, OCIO (202-482-0336 or jjessup@doc.gov)
    • Mike Kruger, Director of Digital Strategy, Office of Public Affairs, (202-482-2556 or mkruger@doc.gov)

Revision History:

August 28, 2008 : Corrected formatting.
January 11, 2001: Approved
April, 29, 2013:: Approved Revision

Department of Commerce Web Advisory Council (WAC)
U.S. Department of Commerce

Send questions and comments about this page to WAC@doc.gov
Page last updated October 28, 2010