In Sum

[Wallace Koehler <willing@USIT.NET>]

Let me see if I have this right. The debate on this listserv boils down to
three or four different groups, each of which has Right, God, and the
Internet Way on its side. The other groups are all driven by greed or power
lust.  The good guys each want to provide efficient service to the world,
while the bad guys wish to either dominate Internet World or grab all the
good domain names under any and all tlds or stake a claim to some chunk of
domain-territory out there in cyberlandia.

I have seen charges and counter-charges of naivte, greed, stupidity, and all
other perfidious motives. I have also seen a listserv dominated by a very
small group of people all bent on being right. I'll be surprised if this
makes it since most of my earlier "contributions" are still whirling about
in cyber-no-where. Makes me wonder about "open debate." Perhaps I should
have accused somebody of being a damned fool or commented on beard length
(beard envy?).  That would have resulted in a posting.

Now, let's sit down and reason together. 

First given: the Internet-- particularly the WWW -- is/was a public good. It
should be treated as such? OK, the Internet began as the child of the
American defense establishment (public funds, right), later NSF (more public
funds). The water shed came in 1995 with its privatization (private funds).

Therefore, let us debate if the Internet should be viewed as private
property or public domain. If private, one set of conclusions follow. If
public, a totally different set. Should the IAHC, InterNic, AlterNic,
AnybodyNic, OldStNic, TheNic be empowered to set sweeping standards for
tlds, server-level domain names, anything in between. Should the status quo
prevail -- with three kingdoms?

As I understand the debate (too kind a word) on THIS listserv: (1)
TheISO3166 domains are out-of-it. But (2) the functional naming world should
be splintered OR (3) highly centralized. Hmmm, can we learn anything from
parallel systems. Has anybody bothered looking at development of other
telecommunications and regulation in that arena. 

Does anybody on this listserv really believe that the Internet can remain
relatively unregulated? In any of the 3 kingdoms? Does Sen. Exon ring a bell?

Second given... There is a need for standardization of names. A portion of
the ISO3166 Kingdom has carried the naming std to the second-level, applying
functional terms (.com.xx, edu.xx, etc) and synonyms (.co.yy and .ac.yy)
Some even add other sectors (.fi.cr = financial sector in Costra Rica). Now,
I don't much care what the initials are, so long as there is
standardization...the more the better. Are there parallels to this. You bet.
Look at telephone numbers: first-country code, second- area or regional
code, third - an exchange. Tells alot about where the phone is. Hey, what
about postal codes. 

I am somewhat amused by the .EARTH domain proposal. For the time being, I
thought Earth was a given. 

Phone numbers? Do we need mneumonics on the Internet? That gets us away from
trademark infringement in a hurry if that's the big hangup. 

Firstly and Finally -- this whole (hole) debate has at its roots
philosophical questions (Yes, techies, moral and philospohical issues).
Other than branding each other fools on this listserv, none of these
concerns have been addressed. Resolve these issues first, the rest will follow. 

A last note - I would unsubscribe, particularly in light of the flood of
invective in the last three or four days. But, inanity has its place (ever
gone to a UN debate? At least they're more or less polite to each other in
public)

Merry Christmas
Wallace Koehler
willing@usit.net
*****************************************************
Statistics are always true unless you personally know
who made them up --Deepak Chopra*********************