ICANN’s basic criteria to give a country a TLD is that the country has a code with the International Standardization Organization (ISO). These country codes are always 2 letter codes

ICANN can also issue generic TLDs which must be at least 3 letters and come from what they view as a competent sponsor (.museum for museums for example) and they can also issue on the basis of language and culture, these language codes are registered with the ISO and are 3 letter codes

In the past there were moves from Catalonia to the ISO to have CT registered as their country code. Despite having the complete support of the Catalonian parliament the ISO rejected the move on the basis that Catalonia was not a sovereign country and they only gave codes of that nature to a sovereign country.

The Catalans are in the process of trying a different tact. As has already been mentioned ICANN can issue three letter TLDs for languages and cultures. The criteria, is that the language has a three letter code registered with the ISO. Catalan is registered as CAT.  This has prompted moves in Catalonia to try and get .CAT as a TLD for the Catalan language and culture.

Welsh, like Catalan, is a language which is on the ISO register, listed as CYM or WEL. This means that it could feasibly be given a TLD by ICANN which would be .CYM or .WEL. This would require a competent sponsoring body and the ability to show that the move has support within that language’s ‘community’.

We are looking into this option at the moment, Watch this space!

Many Thanks to Davie Hutchison, SNP Researcher for this info.