Editing Alternative DNS root (section)

==Overview==
The [[DNS root zone]] consists of pointers to the [[Authoritative name server|authoritative domain name servers]] for all [[top-level domain]]s (TLDs). The root zone is hosted on a collection of [[Root name server|root servers]] operated by several organizations around the world that all use a specific, approved list of domains that is managed by [[ICANN]]. By contrast, alternative roots typically include pointers to all of the [[Top-level domain|TLD]] servers for domains delegated by ICANN, as well as name servers for other, custom top-level domains that are not sanctioned by ICANN. Some alternative roots are operated by the organizations that manage these alternative TLDs.

Zach Bastick proposes that alternative DNS roots have allowed for more democratic control of the Internet:

{{blockquote|The implementation of alternative gTLDs predates any significant debate on name space extension by official actors, and this exemplifies how democratising the DNS alters the pace of developing Internet policy, the nature of decisions that justify that policy development, and political dynamics and user autonomy in the network infrastructure.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Bastick|first=Zach|title=Our Internet and Freedom of Speech 'Hobbled by History': Introducing Plural Control Structures Needed to Redress a Decade of Linear Policy|journal=European Commission: European Journal of EPractice|year=2012|series= Policy lessons from a decade of eGovernment, eHealth & eInclusion|issue=15|pages=97–111|url=http://www.epractice.eu/files/Journal_Volume_15_PART8_0.pdf}}</ref>{{rp|103}}}}

Unless one specifically changes their [[DNS resolver|DNS resolution]] settings, alternative DNS top level domains are generally unreachable, and very few [[Internet service provider]]s provide this configuration by default.