The domain name registrar and hosting provider GoDaddy.com has teamed up with Afilias USA, a Domain Name registration service provider, to make a bid for management of the .us ccTLD.

The new company formed by the partnership is called The Domain Name Alliance Registry (LLC). It submitted its proposal to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration arm of the US Department of Commerce, who have requested quotations for a registry operator of the .us ccTLD.

The .us domain has been underperforming in relation to other ccTLDs, and the Alliance Registry's proposal includes elements which are likely to boost marketing of the ccTLD and its technological security. The Department of Commerce is expected to make its decision by September 2007. The contract with the current steward of the domain ends on 26th October, and the new chosen management will be expected to take over immediately.

"Today, the usTLD ranks 9th among the world's country code domains, despite America's leadership of the Internet and the most robust domain growth market in history," said Roland LaPlante, vice-president and chief marketing officer for Afilias. "Now is the time to change usTLD leadership and put it on a growth track."

Warren Adelman, Go Daddy's President and Chief Operating Officer, added, "We believe Alliance Registry pools the strengths of its partners, Go Daddy and Afilias, to offer usTLD superior technology, enhanced marketing, and focused administration to improve this critical national resource."