Re: Am I confused?

[Aveek Datta <MoNoLiTH+@CMU.EDU>]

Excerpts from newdom: 19-Nov-96 Am I confused? by Ron Fitzherbert@penguin. 
> we are discussing the need for additional iTLD's (even though it could be
> debated that rather than creating more we should eliminate  6 of the
> current 7 (even if 3 of the 6 are EXTREMELY US-centric they do exist in
> form as iTLDs) keeping .int even if no one uses it and moving everyone
> else under the ISO codes?).

It's an interesting concept but the bottom line is that for lots of
companies geographical distinctions just don't work or are a hassle to the
cause. For example ML.ORG is run form servers located around the world, has
no office. I'm located in Pittsburgh, my Webmaster is somewhere else in the
states, I have hostmasters in Africa, Tech support in Israel, and so on..

> IMHO the worst thing (and maybe it will end up the best thing) that has
> happened to the internet in the last 3 years was the NSF pulling out (in
> general, not specifically in regards to namespace).  Now, I am not so
> blind as to not understand the reasons behind it, but they were the
> "POWERS THAT BE" -- they really did "legally" control things until
> recently.

The NSF might be doing a good job overall but their management of the
Internic contract leaves some to be desired. That's an interesting point -->
are we supposed to/allowed to make requirements for all iTLD registries,
including the Internic, or at least the new Internic after 98?

> We now have Alternic (and others) out there who are not following the
> "conventions" who are forcing the discussion we are having now regarding
> expanding iTLDs.  It is a VALID thing to be discussing -- and I do think
> that there are some major problems that do need to be worked out -- but
> shouldn't the first "problem" be to "formally" establish a process?

Most of the argument against prior use and domain name squatters can of
course be used against the Alternic. But don't tell them I said so or we'll
all get sued.


 Aveek Datta           _ _ _   _                Email: aveek@andrew.cmu.edu
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