Merger should breathe new life into domain name advocacy initiative.
The Domain Name Association (DNA), a trade group made up of domain name registrars and registries, is merging with Internet Infrastructure Coalition (i2Coalition), a similar organization representing a broader group including cloud providers, data centers, and other businesses that underly the internet. With the transition, The DNA will become a working group within i2C.
The DNA was formed in 2013 as new top level domains were about to roll out. Many of its members are new top level domain name registries, and the group was generally seen as an advocacy group for new TLDs. However, it focused more broadly on promoting the importance of domain names.
It seems that the group has languished somewhat in recent years. Joining forces with i2Coalition should amplify its messaging, especially as it works with hosting and other infrastructure companies.
Statton Hammock, founding DNA Board member and current Board Secretary, told Domain Name Wire:
The DNA’s core mission to promote the sale, adoption and use of domain names, joined with i2Coalition’s extensive Internet industry knowledge and connections, will elevate the visibility of the domain name Industry and ensure that domain names remain the most effective navigational tool for the global Internet.
Many DNA members are already members of i2Coalition, including Amazon, Donuts, GoDaddy, and Google.
The merger will be effective July 28.
Hard to see how this will “amplify its messaging”.
With new tlds not what they were predicted to be it sounds like they are out of money and effort.