Guide details process for securing free US locality domains
A new technical breakdown outlines the steps for US citizens and entities to obtain free locality-based domain names, highlighting the reliance on Amazon Lightsail for nameservers and the manual nature of the approval process.
A blog post published by Fred Chan provides a comprehensive walkthrough for obtaining free *.city.state.us domain names in the United States. The guide details a procedure that requires applicants to be US citizens, permanent residents, or US-incorporated entities. Unlike standard domain registration, which typically includes nameservers, obtaining a locality domain necessitates that registrants first secure their own nameservers, with Amazon Lightsail identified as a viable source for free options.
The infrastructure for these locality domains was established in 1992 and has been maintained under government contract since inception. To register a domain, applicants must complete the Interim .US Domain Template v2.0 and submit it to the delegated registrar for their specific locality. This submission is a manual process that can take days or weeks to complete, as approvals are not automated. Upon approval, DNS records must be configured to point the domain to a web host, such as GitHub Pages.
A significant hurdle in the registration process is the outdated nature of the delegated subdomain list, which was last updated in 2009. Registrants may need to conduct independent research to find current contact details for delegated managers. For instance, the guide notes that NW Nexus, formerly listed as the manager for seattle.wa.us, has restructured into NuOz Corporation, requiring applicants to locate the correct modern email address for submissions.
For localities where registration has not been delegated, the process is far more restrictive. NeuStar manages all undelegated domains and restricts registration to local government agencies under a policy implemented in 2002. This restriction has remained in place for over two decades, effectively barring private individuals and standard businesses from registering domains in areas without a delegated registrar.
The guide also highlights discrepancies between registration requirements and privacy outcomes. While applicants must provide a physical address on the template, WHOIS requests for these domains only display registrar information, not the registrant's personal details. Enforcement of residency requirements appears lax, with the author citing examples of former residents retaining their domains after moving abroad.
