In the beginning there was HOSTS.TXT and it was administered centrally.
Discussion
Hmm. Each user could edit their own hosts.txt on their own machine though. It may have been initially centrally distributed, but it was not managed that way. Well, unless you have a GPO to update it 🥹
It’s interesting reading a 40 yr-old spec when the internet was not considered to be a done deal. ChaosNet was still in the running.