[~NH~]

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers said Friday it approved the .xxx domain for adult web sites after years of nixing the idea.

A spokesman for ICANN, which holds jurisdiction over top-level domains, confirmed the go-ahead.

ICM Registry, the nonprofit organization that has been pushing to establish .xxx, will distribute it to porn sites. Even before approval, the site hosted a start-up plan pending the proposed domain's entry.

"In order to provide an orderly process for members of the registrant community and to use our resources effectively during this intervening period, ICM has decided to undertake the first phase of the Industry Reservation Period," the group's site said.

In June, ICANN's board of directors approved the top-level domain, which is the technical name for the .com, .xxx or .net part of a URL . It was sent to the next committee for approval.

In the past, ICM Registry has argued that the .xxx domain is beneficial to the public, because it indicates a clear signal that the domain contains pornography

.