Registries and iTLDs

[Donald Heath <heath@linus.isoc.org>]

I would like to address, at a high level, concepts related to the possibility
of adding _any_ new registries and iTLDs.  

The IAHC is attempting to resolve issues related to the above subject.

As a result of that effort, I do not think we (the IAHC) should do anything
to allow anyone, or any company, to "get rich."  I think that domain
names are a device to allow the naming of computers that are attached
to the Internet.  iTLDs should not be a vehicle for any entity to profit
excessively.  They should be nothing more than what they are: an
international resource that assist in the mechanisms to achieve
uniqueness in domain names.

That said, it begs that there should be only _shared iTLDs_, probably
not too many (in the 100s at tops maybe); there should be _multiple
registries_, and they should be scattered around the globe; they
should be considered as a _public service_ with enough income to
provide the required service and enough profit to provide the incentive
to function.

It also says that iTLDs should not be emotionally charged and should
be made as universal as possible  -  recognizing that we live in a world
that has many languages; that they should be defined by a process
that is ground-up  -  that is, not dictated, but arrived at through some
process of gaining broad consensus.

To achieve this means broad consensus and agreement  -  and I don't
mean by just the relatively few individuals who participate on this list.
I feel fairly certain that if we (the Internet community  -  which is growing
to mean virtually everyone) don't agree to something along the above
lines, governments and regulating agencies around the globe are going
to take over the process and it will be a long time before any kind of order
will emerge.  But they will come to the conclusions I cited above.  They
will not allow companies or people to grow fat (wealthy) from providing
this kind of service.

Yes, there are other issues being worked; it was only the these concepts
behind iTLDs and registries that I wanted to address.

Don Heath [Speaking for myself, and not for the IAHC in an official capacity.]
President/CEO
Internet Society;
Chair, IAHC