Stevenson Welcomes dotSCOT Web Presence

Banffshire & Buchan Coast MSP Stewart Stevenson has welcomed the news that “dotSCOT” will be available for website and e-mail addresses for the first time from this summer.

It is understood that the new domain could be on general sale in time for this summer’s Commonwealth Games.

Dot Scot Registry (DSR), a Glasgow-based not-for-profit company, has agreed terms with the international regulatory authority, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), to operate the new dotSCOT internet domain. It had previously been anticipated that ICANN’s processes would mean that the new domain would not be available until early 2015.

DotSCOT will offer a unique branding tool for businesses and a clear cultural identifier for people and organisations in Scotland and also for the international diaspora that extends to many tens of millions more.

The Scottish Government has actively supported DSR in the application process, regarding dotSCOT as an asset for the public good which supports the business, cultural, linguistic and artistic uniqueness of Scotland

Commenting, Stewart Stevenson said:

“While it’s great news in itself that we will finally have a Scottish alternative for web and e-mail addresses, this actually has the potential to significantly boost awareness of Scottish business, arts and culture online.

“Scotland has a great reputation all over the world and having a dotSCOT domain will allow people and organisations to clearly identify themselves with that.”

First Minister Alex Salmond said:

“2014 is an exciting year for Scotland, and I’m delighted that this distinct online identity for the nation, and all who take an interest in Scotland, will become available this summer.

“The dotSCOT domain is long overdue in this digital age, and the worldwide family of Scots who have been waiting patiently since it was first proposed, will soon be able to have this marvellously expressive domain as their online identity of choice.”

Gavin McCutcheon, Director of Dot Scot Registry, said:

“Scotland and Scottishness conveys a whole range of positive connotations, which could not really be portrayed on the web before, but with a dotSCOT domain there will be a new option anyone involved in Scottish business, arts and culture and others to identify themselves more clearly as Scottish to the online world.

“We aim to make dotSCOT domains as affordable as possible and our not-for-profit structure means we will be able to do so.

“We hope that dotSCOT will become the first choice for the worldwide family of Scots, allowing them to demonstrate for the first time their affinity to Scotland and for Scottish societies and organisations wherever they are in the world to make dotSCOT their home on the Internet.”