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An SLD is a domain name such as .co.uk, .org.uk or .me.uk. Currently Nominet says it holds about three million different domain names in its registry.

Nominet is suggesting that an independent secretariat and panel of experts should be set up to review all future applications. They will be open to competitive tender and subject to two rounds of public consultation. It is also suggested that the criteria for applications become more detailed and a fee charged to applicants.

Currently the grounds on which a new SLD is considered is whether there is a demand for it, whether it is sufficiently different from an existing SLD and whether it is thought that it will benefit the Internet community as a whole.

The consultation period closes on 30 September 2003 and full details on how to respond can be found at the Nominet website.