Were original registrations done by mail?
I see 5 domains registered on Aug. 5th, 1986, then no more domains for another month. And 12 on Dec. 11 1986, then again another month with no registrations.
I see 5 domains registered on Aug. 5th, 1986, then no more domains for another month. And 12 on Dec. 11 1986, then again another month with no registrations.
I hated having to use the InterNIC template when I was handling domain regs back at that place we were both involved with.
Note that this actually precedes the web by several years
The SRI NIC had a template file you'd fill out and email it in. For example, see RFC-1032: https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc1032
I registered my first .edu in 1986 (maybe 1987) and my first .com in 1988.
It was done similarly for getting IP blocks assigned. I emailed in a form around 1986 and got a class B assigned for my university (still in use).
EDIT: I operated a regional thing off BBN, and I could do the nasty bits of hoisting myself to administrative acceptance. I can't imagine what it must have required for someone just trying to 'join' before 1990-or-so.