[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Probably none of them would voluntarily
> move into the proper category. They'd probably have to be forced into
> the proper categories, i.e. if you want connectivity with the net,
> you need to be in (whatever) category. It happen that way now with the
> top level domains .edu , .mil and .gov . If you are not an EDUcational
> or a MILitary or GOVernment entity you do not get in those categories.
> Of course this would require some policing efforts by ICANN and its
> registrars. I am sure there would be a lot of whimpering and whining by
> some folks, but that's life around the net. PAT]
It's true that I can't register in the .edu/.mil/.gov domains. But plenty of organizations which CAN register in those domains choose to register in .com/.org/.net as well.
There's no connection, however, between registering domains and connecting to the net, and I can't see that there ever will be. My connectivity is provided by EasyStreet Online Services and my domain is registered by BulkRegister, two companies who have absolutely no reason ever to talk to one another. A zillion domains out there have been registered by domain name speculators whose domains have no meaningful net presence, and I can have a net presence without even registering a domain (though I would not do so myself).
-- George Mitchell