Setting up a free *.city.state.us locality domain (2025) (fredchan.org)

Article summary

The article explains how to register a free locality domain in the US, such as somename.city.state.us, by following a series of steps including choosing a domain, acquiring nameservers from Amazon Lightsail, filling out a registration form, and setting up DNS records. The process can be complex and requires patience. Locality domains were first created in 1992 and are associated with a location in the US. Registration is limited to US citizens, permanent residents, or organizations with a presence in the US.

Main themes

• Locality domains
• Domain registration
• US geography and governance
• DNS and web hosting
• Government policy and bureaucracy

What commenters say

• The primary use of locality domains seems to be explaining how to get them, rather than actual practical use.
• The registration process for locality domains is unusual and can be confusing, even for those familiar with domain registration.
• Some argue that the use of locality domains can lead to branding and communication issues, particularly for government organizations.
• Others believe that effective communication and branding are important for government organizations and that public dollars can be well-spent on these efforts.
• The expansion of the .gov domain to outside the US federal government has been criticized, with some arguing it should be limited to federal government use.
• The use of subdomains such as .k12.oh.us can be problematic due to the complexity of US geography and governance structures.
• Some commenters have had personal experiences with locality domains, including difficulties with registration and maintenance.
• There are differing opinions on the importance of clear and consistent branding for government organizations, with some seeing it as a waste of public dollars and others as a valuable investment.