What is a registrar?

A Domain Name Registrar is a company that handles the actual registration of your domain name with the Central Registry. If your name is not properly registered with this central registry, people cannot find you on the Internet using your domain name.  Currently we use "TUCOWS" as our registrar and update all of our customers' listings via a system referred to as "OpenSRS".

What are my rights as a Registrant?

When you lease a domain name from the Central Registry, not only do you have the right to choose your registrar, but you have the right to control all the information related to your domain name. This includes control over the "registrant" name, as well as Administrative, Technical, and Billing contact information. We recommend that the Registrant and Billing contacts be set to you, the customer. Most of the time our customers list us and our technical partners as their "Administrative Contact" and "Technical Contact" so we can update the registry promptly should the need arise.

What is an ISP?

An Internet service provider (ISP), is an organization that provides the general public a technical connection (or doorway) to the World Wide Web.

How does an ISP work?

Computers use a modem (or SL, ISDN, Cable, or Wireless connection) to connect to the Internet. The ISP's network is available on a twenty-four hour basis 365 days a year, allowing the customer to use their computer to connect to the internet whenever the customer desires (generally). An access number is necessary to connect to the ISP.  Additionally, each customer is required to have both a login and password to verify the customer's relationship to the ISP before a connection can be successful.