.etc

Link Freedom Group (LFG) aspires to become a best-in-class, vertically integrated domain name registration authority, see linkfreedomgroup.link. This TLD is part of a carefully curated portfolio of strings that LFG intends to pursue in ICANN’s 2026 New gTLD Program. In assembling this portfolio, LFG focused on securing meaningful, memorable, and commercially compelling strings that resonate strongly with end users and offer long-term growth potential. Over the past four years, LFG (Nova Registry) has successfully grown its flagship TLD, .LINK, from approximately 125,000 to more than 300,000 domains under management. This growth has been driven by innovative distribution strategies, the expansion of registrar partnerships, and a granular pricing model that has enabled .LINK to remain competitively priced while avoiding the significant fee increases implemented by some other registry operators. LFG’s experience in the domain name industry has reinforced one of the key lessons from the 2012 application round: long-term sustainability is strengthened through portfolio diversification. By spreading operational costs and mitigating revenue fluctuations across multiple TLDs, LFG is better positioned to withstand market volatility and invest in continued growth. Accordingly, LFG believes that even obtaining a subset of the TLDs for which it has applied will establish a diversified portfolio capable of supporting long-term economic stability, operational resilience, and sustainable growth.

The mission of .ETC is to provide a namespace associated with the applied-for string. The .ETC gTLD is intended to serve a broad range of registrants and users, including individuals, businesses, organizations, communities, projects, and other entities that identify with, relate to, or wish to be associated with the concept represented by the applied-for string. The purpose of .ETC is to enable registrants to establish online identities using domain names that correspond to this concept. To achieve this purpose, Pirin Tablet, LLC will make .ETC available for registration through registrars and other appropriate distribution channels; maintain a secure, stable, and reliable registry infrastructure; implement registration and operational policies that support the availability, security, and integrity of the namespace; and provide ongoing administration of the gTLD to enable registrants to register and use domain names within the namespace. The purpose of .ETC is sustainable over time because the applied-for string is broadly recognized and has broad applicability across a wide range of contexts. As society, technology, and methods of communication evolve, organizations and individuals will continue to establish online identities associated with the applied-for string.

1. Mission and purpose: The mission of .etc is to provide a short, universally understood namespace for projects, ideas and identities that fit no single category: the "and everything else" of the internet. Intended registrants include individuals, businesses and organizations of every kind, across all sectors and purposes, for whom "etc" offers a short, recognizable and memorable domain ending. Intended users are the global internet public, for whom "etc." is among the most recognized abbreviations in written language. Following delegation, the applicant will, as registry operator of the .etc TLD, conduct a phased launch, implement all ICANN-required rights protection mechanisms, and distribute the TLD through ICANN-accredited registrars, supported by marketing and outreach to build awareness and adoption among the intended registrant and user groups. The TLD will be operated under a comprehensive DNS abuse prevention and mitigation framework covering the full range of abuse types, combining proactive and reactive controls. Abuse reports will be investigated and actioned in line with applicable policy requirements. The objective is to maintain .etc as a high-quality, trusted namespace for registrants and end users. 2. Sustainability: "Etc." derives from a Latin phrase in continuous use for centuries; its meaning is stable and not tied to any technology cycle or trend. The need it serves, flexible naming for content that resists categorization, is permanent and grows as more individuals and small projects come online.

Mission and Purpose of .ETC TLD1 LLC exists to expand the supply of meaningful, memorable, and useful names available to the next generation of internet creators. The Internet has about 6 billion users around the world, but only a relatively small percentage are active creators, publishers, sellers, influencers, businesses, or sharers of information. We believe that gap will narrow over time, especially as AI makes it easier for individuals and small teams to create websites, businesses, services, and other forms of online content. We also believe people, organizations, and businesses should be able to maintain their own independent place on the Internet. Social networks, marketplaces, search engines, and AI platforms can all help people reach audiences, but those platforms control the rules, the presentation, and often the relationship. A domain name gives a communicator an address they can control and use to direct interested users, prospects, customers, and communities to a place of their own choosing. That need does not disappear as technology changes. If anything, it becomes more important as more online activity is mediated by large platforms and AI systems. .ETC is intended to serve that growing population of creators and communicators. “Etc.” is the commonly used abbreviation for “et cetera,” a familiar expression meaning “and the rest,” “and so forth,” or “and so on.” It is open-ended by nature. It suggests that there is more to see, more to know, or more to come. That makes .ETC well suited to a broad range of uses. It can work for individuals, businesses, publishers, creators, communities, products, projects, and informational websites. It is not tied to a particular industry, geography, profession, or type of registrant. We intend to operate .ETC as an open, general-purpose TLD available to registrants through ICANN-accredited registrars. Our goal is to make .ETC widely available, reasonably priced, and easy to use. We believe its short length, familiar meaning, broad applicability, and international usefulness give it the potential for long-term relevance. TLD1 LLC is committed to operating .ETC responsibly, with transparent pricing, broad registrar distribution, and active DNS abuse prevention through our contracted, ICANN-evaluated registry service providers.

1. Mission and purpose. This gTLD will be operated as an open, unrestricted generic top-level domain. Its purpose is to expand naming choice in the DNS by making this term available at the top level for any lawful use chosen by the registrant. Registrations will be available to all registrants on a first-come, first-served basis through ICANN-accredited registrars, subject only to the Registry Agreement, ICANN Consensus Policies, and applicable law. The applicant will not operate this gTLD on an exclusive basis. 2. Intended registrants and users. Intended registrants are individuals, businesses, and other organizations worldwide seeking a short, meaningful domain name. There are no eligibility or name selection restrictions beyond those required by the Registry Agreement, ICANN Consensus Policies, and applicable law. Intended users are internet users worldwide who access domain names registered in this gTLD. 3. Related activities. The applicant is an established registry operator under contract with ICANN for 35 gTLDs, including .xyz. It has in place a qualified Registry Service Provider, distribution agreements with ICANN-accredited registrars across multiple regions, and all required rights protection mechanisms and DNS abuse mitigation practices. For this gTLD the applicant will onboard the TLD to its existing registry platform, conduct a Sunrise Period and Trademark Claims Period, launch General Availability through its registrar channel, and maintain ongoing registrar enablement, abuse monitoring, and compliance reporting. 4. Sustainability. Operation is funded by recurring registration and renewal revenue and does not depend on any single registrant, sector, or campaign. This gTLD will run on the applicant's existing shared registry infrastructure, so incremental operating cost is low and no minimum registration volume is required for viability. The applicant has operated gTLDs continuously since 2014.