Thousands of CPA firms, including many of the nation’s largest, have moved quickly to reserve their existing branded domains under the new restricted Internet domain, .cpa, according to CPA.com
Well over half of the 100 biggest U.S. firms – as well as an equally large percentage of the next 400 – have begun advancing their applications as part of the early phase of the .cpa registration process, which launched on Sept. 1.
The first phase of .cpa’s rollout, which ends on Oct. 31, is designed to help firms acquire domains that are most consistent with their current digital branding. This initial pool will be considered en masse so no one has a time advantage in filing during this first phase.
“CPA firms have really grasped the advantages the .cpa domain brings to their online presence,” said Erik Asgeirsson, president and CEO of CPA.com. “These restricted domains ensure greater trust in online interactions between CPAs and their clients, and – at the same time – firms are seeing the larger branding opportunity .cpa represents. The reception has been very positive, and firms are asking smart, constructive questions around adoption and implementation, which bodes well for broad-based activation.”
.CPA is what’s known as a top-level domain, which describes the letters found at the end of an Internet address, such as .com. The use of specialized or restricted top-level domains has grown dramatically in recent years as businesses, organizations and online communities seek to promote their visibility and authenticity in the digital world. .CPA also has improved security compared to unrestricted domains.
Only licensed CPA firms can apply for .cpa. For the initial application period ending Oct. 31, preferred domains are awarded based on logic-based criteria verified by an independent third party and firms will be notified of the outcome of their application by the first week of November. After that, firms can apply on a rolling basis. Individually licensed CPAs can apply for their preferred .cpa domain beginning in January 2021 when general availability opens.
The AICPA was awarded ownership and management of the .cpa top-level domain last year by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). CPA.com is responsible for managing the service.
To learn more about .cpa or to apply for the new service, please visit domains.cpa. The site includes numerous resources and FAQs.
About CPA.com
CPA.com brings innovative solutions to the accounting profession, either in partnership with leading providers or directly through its own development. The company has established itself as a thought leader on emerging technologies and as the trusted business advisor to practitioners in the United States, with a growing global focus.
Our company’s core mission is to drive the transformation of practice areas, advance the technology ecosystem for the profession, and lead technology research and innovation efforts for practitioners.
A subsidiary of the American Institute of CPAs, the company is also part of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, the world’s most influential organization representing the profession. For more information, visit CPA.com.
About the American Institute of CPAs
The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) is the world’s largest member association representing the CPA profession, with more than 431,000 members in the United States and worldwide, and a history of serving the public interest since 1887. AICPA members represent many areas of practice, including business and industry, public practice, government, education and consulting. The AICPA sets ethical standards for its members and U.S. auditing standards for private companies, nonprofit organizations, and federal, state and local governments. It develops and grades the Uniform CPA Examination, offers specialized credentials, builds the pipeline of future talent and drives professional competency development to advance the vitality, relevance and quality of the profession.
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