The top-level domain (TLD) .EUS is an Internet top-level domain for the Basque language and culture, mainly used in Spain and France. The acronym EUS reflects the Basque word “Euskara” which stands for the Basque language.
This domain is part of a larger group of Internet top-level domains known as gTLDs (generic Top-Level Domains), which include common extensions such as .com, .net, .org and less generic ones like .EUS that are often linked to specific communities, institutions or regions. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the governing body for Internet domains, approves and manages these domains, including .EUS.
The .EUS domain, specifically, is managed by PuntuEus Fundazioa, a foundation based in Bilbao, Spain. It started functioning under this umbrella in 2008 as a part of the New gTLD program of ICANN. After meeting specific requirements set by ICANN, which included demonstrations of the support of the community for which the domain was intended, the .EUS domain was finally delegated to PuntuEus on November 27, 2014, and became available to use for the public.
Being the first top-level domain representing a language and culture on the Internet, .EUS serves as a platform where the Basque linguistic community can interact, grow, and showcase their cultural richness to the rest of the world. For example, institutions like the Basque Public University (www.ehu.eus) and organizations like the Basque Radio and Television Broadcasting Corporation (www.eitb.eus) currently use a .EUS domain. To use this domain, individuals and organizations must adhere to a series of regulations and practices set out by PuntuEus, which aim to promote and ensure the effective use of .EUS domains.
In conclusion, the .EUS top-level domain is a valuable digital asset for the Basque linguistic community, playing a crucial role in the promotion and preservation of the Basque language and culture and providing an online home for millions of Basques in Spain, France, and worldwide.
Some sources used for this information include sites like web.archive.org and icann.org, where ICANN’s process and policies for internet domain enforcement and delegation are laid out. In addition, the PuntuEus foundation’s website (www.domeinuak.eus) provided detailed information about the .EUS domain’s history, its local importance, and the guidelines for its use.
