Initially, it was a bit easier as the only requirement for registering such domains and emails was a government organization's letterhead. Federal processes on dot gov domain were updated in late 2023 and it has become tricky to register a dot gov domain or get an email.
As a website design for government service we often come across the question: can anyone buy a dot gov domain or email?
Initially, it was a bit easier as the only requirement for how to get .gov domain was a government organization's letterhead. Federal processes on .gov domain were updated in late 2023 and it has become tricky to register a dot gov domain or get an email.
Lucky for you, Town Web is here to simplify the how to get .gov domain process. But, before we get into how we can help you, let’s break the whole process of registering a .gov domain and getting its email. Here’s what we’ll cover:
- What are the dot gov domain and email requirements?
- Who can get a dot gov domain and email?
- How to apply for a dot gov domain and email?
What are the .gov Domain and Email Requirements?
To clearly understand the dot gov domain and email requirements, we’ll be breaking them down into three distinct sections.
Eligibility – Can Anyone Get a .gov Domain?
Only the U.S. government and public sector organizations can get a .gov domain and email. This bracket of organizations involves federal, state, local, tribal, territorial, and other publicly controlled entities. The detailed explanation of who comes under the government or public sector is explained by the United States Census Bureau.
What does .gov mean in a Web Address and Why Do You Need a .gov Domain?
The dot gov domain is only for the United States government and certain public sector organizations: it's used as a security measure. The .gov domain is seen as more secure than the earlier used state.co.us domain. This domain was especially susceptible to "phishing" scams. This means that individuals use this email address to trick people into revealing information or clicking on a dangerous link. It also means individuals can send information to members of the public, posing as a governmental employee and spreading fake or false news. This can be done because the .us domain is publicly available on domain registrars.
Naming Requirements
The next step in how to get .gov domain process is naming. As many of you would know, domain names need to be globally unique. The same is the case with .gov domains. However, in addition to being unique, the government agency domains must have identical or, at least, similar names to the organization or service. Other requirements are as under:
- The domain name must be either identical or closely related to the organization or service’s name so that the targeted audience isn’t misled.
- Generic domain names, for instance, licenses.gov, are only allowed for federal agencies; however, a more explicit explanation in the name, such as matrylandvotes.gov, is acceptable.
- Exceptions to the aforementioned requirements may be made on a case-by-case basis as outlined in the special requirements section.
- dot gov domain names don’t work on a ‘first come, first served basis. If there’s a clash on the domain name, then the authority with the most closely related service will get it.
Required and Prohibited Activities
There are certain requirements and prohibitions concerning government agency domains and emails. They are:
Requirements
Maintain current and accurate administrative and technical contact information with the dot gov’s official organization.
Prohibited Activities
- Don’t use the dot gov domain or the associated email for commercial purposes.
- Don’t conduct political campaigns through it.
- The dot gov domain or associated email shouldn’t be used for illegal content as per applicable law.
- Don’t engage in malicious cyber activity through it.
How to Get .gov Domain?
- Go to Get.Gov website to start the process: https://get.gov/
- Check the domain availability on https://get.gov/ page
eg. https://forestvilletown.wi.gov - Create an account by going to Login.gov to request a dot gov domain.
(If you already created an account, skip Step 4). - Create Login.gov account: https://login.gov/help/get-started/create-your-account/Important: Before you can request your first dot gov domain, you will need to verify your identity with Login.gov. This is a necessary layer of security that requires you to prove you are you, and not someone pretending to be you.
In order to verify your identify, you'll need:
a) a state-issued ID
b) a Social Security number
c) a phone number. - Log in to your Login.gov account on this page: https://secure.login.gov/
- Click on the blue button “Start a new domain request” or click on the following link to access this page directly: https://manage.get.gov/request/
- Follow the on screen prompts and fill out the information needed
- Once you receive an email that your domain is registered, go to https://manage.get.gov/ click on “Manage” next to your new dot gov domain.
- Scroll down until you get to the section “Domain Managers” and click on “Edit” > “Add a domain manager” > enter [email protected] as the email address, and click “Add domain manager” button to save changes.
- Town Web Support will receive an invitation to manage your dot gov domain. This means we will add the necessary technical information (nameservers), and connect your dot gov domain to your website.
How to Get a .gov Email?
Similar to the general commercial websites, the .gov agency domains come with .gov emails, which you can provide to the various employees of the organization to conduct their business. However, ensure they don’t use it for illegal content, political promotion, or commercial purposes.
Hacks and Guidance
- The process can take 4-7 weeks
- Once you've added Town Web as the Domain Manager, we will be able to track the process.
- If you missed the webinar we did on dot gov, watch it by clicking this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYBayi4eWK0
- If you're interested in Town Web hosted emails and archiving, contact us at [email protected]
Simplify .gov Domain Registration With Town Web
By now, you would have gathered the how to get .gov domain is no easy feat. Lucky for you, Town Web, a website design for government organization, is here to secure national domain services for you with its over 15 years of experience.
We started in 2007 to make Clerk-life easier by building website design for the government with tools that local governments love; like a meeting repository, alert scrollers, and notifications to residents. We expanded our business by providing website design and development services (including assistance in national domain services) to hundreds of municipalities and small communities.
Town Web offers affordable, ADA compliant, and easy-to-use custom website design for government with fixed pricing and unlimited support.
If you’re looking to understand how to get .gov domain and email address for your organization without going through the long process or falling for scams, then get in touch with us for further information. You can call, email, or fill out our online form to receive personalized services.
What could be better than getting your dot gov domain and email registered and your whole website designed and developed with the necessary SEO protocols all at once?
If you're interested in Town Web hosted emails and archiving, contact us at [email protected]