RFC 1591 - Berkman Center Summary
full text available at <http://info.internet.isi.edu:80/in-notes/rfc/files/rfc1591.txt>

Title: Domain Name System Structure and Delegation
Author: Jon Postel
Date: March 1994

RFC 1591, written by Jon Postel in 1994, describes the structure of the DNS hierarchy. In this picture, the IANA is at the top, responsible for overall coordination, delegating day-to-day administration to registries: InterNIC (generic and unassigned), RIPE NCC (Europe), and APNIC (Asia-Pacific). The RFC outlines the management structure of TLDs, with the suggestion that the same criteria apply recursively to lower level domains as well.

The RFC describes the original nature of the generic domains: COM for commercial entities (with concerns already about the size of the domain); EDU for four-year degree granting institutions; NET "intended to hold only the computers of network providers"; ORG "the miscellaneous TLD"; INT for international organizations; and the US-only GOV and MIL. The substructure of ccTLDs is up to the individual country.

New ccTLDs are requested through InterNIC, and given designated managers responsible for their administration. The designated manager must "be able to carry out the necessary responsibilities, and have the ability to do a[n] equitable, just, honest, and competent job."

The manager is spoken of as a "trustee," to the global Internet community and to its country, for ccTLDs. "Concerns about 'rights' and 'ownership' of domains are inappropriate. It is appropriate to be concerned about 'responsibilities' and 'service' to the community," the RFC states. Equitable treatment of all groups requesting domain names is crucial. The same rules shall be applied non-discriminatorily to all applicants. IANA tries to stay in the background, allowing interested parties in a domain to agree upon the appropriateness of a designated manager. The RFC leaves open the possibility of partial delegation if parties cannot agree or if an applicant cannot fully perform management functions. The designated manager must be technically competent. Transfers of trusteeship must be approved by the IANA.

The IANA tries to take itself and the registries out of the legal and political questions, stating that beyond providing contact information, the registration authority shall have no role in trademark disputes. The ISO 3166 list is the basis for assigning country codes, and IANA is "not in the business" of deciding what is a country.