Re: Specific Questions

[chris@hal.iodesign.com (Christopher Ambler)]

>It isn't gospel, but obviously the IAHC wouldn't have written it that
>way did if there wasn't a belief that there were strong reasons for
>taking the approach. After all, if the IAHC felt that some other
>approach was preferable, the document would have reflected that. I
>assume this is obvious.

Of course. But it is also obvious that there has been some comment
contrary to the draft which has the appearance of being ignored, and
comments such as the one which prompted my observation do nothing to
counter this perception.

>The mere fact that certain extant companies doing registration are not
>going to be sharing immediately does not mean that it is in the
>interests of the users of the DNS that the IAHC permit other
>non-shared registration mechanisms. If non-shared TLDs are bad, then
>the way to fix the situation is obviously not to create new ones, but
>to only create shared TLDs and to attempt to get the extant TLDs to
>eventually be shared as well.

First, who says that non-shared TLDs are bad? I, for one, think that
they are the best solution. But I compromise on the point. Secondly,
the mere fact that certain extant companies doing registration are not
going to be sharing immediately most certainly does mean that the new
companies must have the same consideration. To do anything else will
open the regulating body to claims of restraintant trade practices,
and prompt legal actions by companies who feel they are being treated
unfairly. Right or wrong, I won't debate with you - I am unqualified.
But the fact remains that suits WILL be filed. Are you prepared for
that?

>I understand that you do not feel this will allow new registrars to
>make as much money as existing companies in the registration business,
>but this cannot be our primary concern, which must remain focused on
>the general needs of the users of the DNS.

How much money they make is irrelevant to me. I am firmly convinced
that in a completely shared model, my company can do just fine. But
if a situation is created in which artificial regulation promotes an
unfair trade balance, I will fight it tooth and nail. Let's make it
fair - everyone shares, or nobody has to until everyone can. Set up
the infrastructure for sharing, and be prepared to implement it just
as soon as NSI can be moved into such a model.

--
Christopher Ambler
President, Image Online Design, Inc.