History of the Internet Domain Name

When the first computers began connecting to each other over Wide Area Networks (WAN's), like the ARPANET in the 1960's, a form of identification was needed to properly access the various systems. At first the networks were composed of only a few computer systems associated with the U.S. Department of Defence and other institutions. As the number of connections grew, a more effective system was needed to regulate and maintain the domain paths throughout the network.

In 1972 the U.S. Defence Information Systems Agency created the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA). IANA was responsible for assigning unique 'addresses' to each computer connected to the Internet. By 1973, the Internet Protocol or IP addressing system became the standard by which all networked computers could be located.

The new Internet continued to grow throughout the 70's with the creation of electronic mail (e-mail) and newsgroups.

Today there is an estimated 19 million domain names registered, with forty thousand more registered every day. The Internet continues its unprecedented growth into the stratosphere and there is really no end in sight.

This growth only serves to underline the benefits of moving registration from government control to private sector control, benefits that are embedded within the spirit of the Internet itself: accessibility, freedom, competition.

Source: http://www.domainavenue.com/faq_history.htm