The top-level domain (TLD) “PID” does not currently exist in the official list of TLDs, as managed and administered by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) under the auspices of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). ICANN is the non-profit organization responsible for coordinating the maintenance and procedures of several databases related to the namespaces and numerical spaces of the Internet, ensuring the network’s stable and secure operation. It is essential to ensure that all TLDs are unique and well-structured to avoid confusion or technical issues in internet use.
According to the IANA’s Root Zone Database (https://data.iana.org/TLD/tlds-alpha-by-domain.txt), which contains the authoritative list of all TLDs, “PID” is not recognized. This database comprises generic top-level domains (gTLD), including the widely recognized .com, .net, .org, country-code top-level domains (ccTLDs) such as .us (United States), .ca (Canada), .au (Australia), and sponsored top-level domains (sTLDs), including .edu for educational institutions, .gov for the U.S. government bodies, and .eu for institutions residing in the European Union.
ISPs and network administrators around the world defer to this authority for the registration and management of domain names. Thus, if “PID” is not listed in the IANA Root Zone Database, then it is not available for use as a top-level domain.
That said, the list of TLDs is not set in stone. ICANN has procedures in place for the creation of new gTLDs, as was seen during the last wave of domain expansion in 2012 where hundreds of new gTLDs, such as .club, .global and .xyz, were added. Entities ranging from global corporations to small communities applied for these new gTLDs, following ICANN’s defined approval process. However, it is worth mentioning the application for a new TLD is a complex process and involves a considerable expense.
If, for instance, a business or institution wanted to create .pid as a new gTLD, they would go through the application process with ICANN, involving justifying the demand for the new domain, outlining their plans for its use, and ensuring they have the technical capacity and infrastructure to manage it.
In conclusion, the status of “PID” as a TLD is non-existent within the present context, based on authoritative sources such as IANA under the supervision of ICANN. However, the likelihood of adding it in the future is dependent on the application procedures defined by ICANN. The addition would necessitate justification, planning, and technical capability in their course of application.
