ICANN/.jp Sign ccTLD Agreement; Promoting A Stable Internet, Both Worldwide And Locally In Japan.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

MARINA DEL REY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 28, 2002

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) today announced that it has entered into an agreement with the Japan Registry Service Corporation (JPRS) which will become the new operator of the .jp "country code top level domain", or ccTLD. This agreement is the second agreement ICANN has signed with a ccTLD operator. Last October, ICANN signed an agreement with auDA, the operator of the ccTLD for Australia, .au.

"This agreement underscores JPRS's and ICANN's joint commitment to promote a stable Internet, both worldwide and locally in Japan," noted ICANN President and CEO M. Stuart Lynn. "It continues the Japanese Internet community's traditions of leadership in the global Internet, and their interest in participating fully in the ICANN process."

This agreement formally recognizes the Japanese community's responsibility for establishing local policies for the .jp ccTLD and ensuring that JPRS operates in the interest of the Japanese community. It also recognizes ICANN's continuing responsibility for global Internet policy to promote stability and global interoperability.

The .jp ccTLD was originally delegated to Dr. Jun Murai, an Internet leader and member of the ICANN Board of Directors, through the operation of the Japanese Network Information Center, JPNIC. The agreement heralds the shift of responsibility from JPNIC to JPRS.

Koki Higashida, President and CEO of JPRS stated that "JPRS, in managing .jp, will cherish the history and achievements of its predecessors of which the world can be proud, and look forward to further enhancing its function."