Key Takeaways:
- The 2026 .US Virtual Town Hall takes place November 5 at 12 PM ET, bringing together domain industry leaders, policymakers, business owners, and the public to discuss the future of the .US namespace.
- Attendees can hear from Internet policy expert Karen Rose and share feedback directly with .US leaders on domain industry trends, growth, security, community outreach, and public-service priorities.
The annual .US Virtual Town Hall returns on Thursday, November 5, 2026, at 12 PM ET, bringing together domain professionals, policymakers, business owners, community leaders, and members of the public for a live discussion about the future of the .US namespace and the evolving Internet ecosystem.
Hosted by Registry Services, the usTLD Administrator, in collaboration with the .US Stakeholder Council, the Town Hall provides an open public forum for community engagement, policy discussion, and stakeholder input.
Featured Guest Speaker: Karen Rose
This year's Town Hall will feature a special presentation by Karen Rose, Partner at Interisle Consulting Group and one of the Internet industry's most respected leaders and policy experts.
Karen is an internationally recognized authority on Internet policy, technology, and development. During her tenure at the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), she co-authored the landmark 1998 U.S. policy statement that introduced global competition to the domain name system and helped establish the foundation for the creation of ICANN.
She later served as a senior executive at the Internet Society, where she focused on expanding global Internet access and fostering conditions for the Internet's continued growth and development worldwide.
Karen's unique experience across government, industry, and global Internet organizations offers attendees a rare opportunity to hear firsthand perspectives from someone who helped shape the modern Internet.
What to Expect
This year’s discussion will explore the current state of the domain industry and the .US namespace, along with growth, security, community participation, and public-service impact.
Topics will include:
The State of the Domain Industry: Current trends, opportunities, and developments affecting the domain ecosystem and .US.
Domain Growth and Community Outreach: Campaigns to increase awareness, participation, and the utility of .US.
Public-Service and Civic Priorities: A discussion about how .US can continue to represent and support America’s diverse online communities.
Live Public Input: Attendees will be encouraged to submit questions, share feedback, and identify topics for future consideration.
Featured Speakers
The 2026 Town Hall will feature:
Dustin Loup, Chair, .US Stakeholder Council
Leigh Aragon, Sr. Director Business Ops & .US Contracts Manager
Christy High, Product Manager, Locality
Melissa Cohen, Operations & Client Services
Kristin Johnson, Council Secretariat, Registry Services Global Marketing & Brand
Karen Rose, Partner, Interisle Consulting Group
Why Attend?
The .US Town Hall is designed for anyone interested in the health, growth and security of the namespace, including domain professionals, registrars, investors, policymakers, business owners, civic organizations, and members of the public.
Attendees will have the opportunity to:
Hear directly from .US leaders.
Gain insight into current domain and growth developments.
Learn about community and public-interest initiatives.
Share questions and feedback with the .US Stakeholder Council.
Contribute to conversations around the .US namespace.
Be Part of the Conversation
Join us as we consider how to keep America’s online home secure, innovative, useful, and representative of the communities it serves.
Register for the 2026 .US Virtual Town Hall
2026 .US Virtual Town Hall
Thursday, November 5, 2026
12 PM Eastern Time
Live online and open to the public
