Thread 5: Defining the namespace (was Re: Thread 1: Sharing)

[Simon Higgs <simon@higgs.com>]

At 2:06 PM +0200 12/25/96, Hank Nussbacher wrote:

> At 10:50 AM 12/24/96 PST, Christopher Ambler wrote:
> >The draft resolution, then, could be that everyone agrees to share as
> >soon as a technical solution is found and NSI agrees to share as well.
> >Until that time, registrars have exclusive use of selected gTLDs, while
> >NSI continues as they have been. CORE will define/choose and implement
> >a sharing procedure immediately, and implement it as soon as sharing
> >is an option.
>
> Does this mean you are in favor of selecting initially 7 registrars via
> lottery that will each have an exclusive over one of the gTLDs or you prefer
> that we select 20 registrars by lottery and each has an exclusive over
> 1 of 20 new GTLDs (an assumption is that the number of gTLDs increases
> from 7 to 20)?  Not that I agree or disagree, I just want to understand your
> proposal.
>

None of the above. Like I said at the IAHC bof - these are all symptoms.

Let's do this in the right order and fix the underlying problem... :-)

1. Define the namespace. The new TLDs need to be proposed (this can be by
   anyone including prospective registries or organizations simply requesting
   suitable names). Many proposals already exist in the form of applications
   received by IANA. [The IAHC, in NOT defining their proposed 7 gTLDs, have
   made the mistake of putting the cart before the horse]

2. The TLD proposal/application explains the purpose and use that the TLD
   would be put to. The IAHC may request further information in evaluating
   these applications.

3. The use and purpose determines whether the TLD should be created and whether
   or not it should be shared or not (e.g. .INT or .COM) and (according to my
   telephone conversations with Jon Postel back in September) is the first
   function of the IAHC. The basis of whether the TLD should be shared is
   dependant on the use and how tightly controlled the delegation needs to be.
   Trademarked names within a specific category TLD would most likely need this
   kind of control while the delegation for general registrations under generic
   TLDs would be able to be shared. At this point, each TLD's charter is
   written.

4. Once the TLD is "approved", one or more registries apply for delegation
   (this depends upon whether the TLD is to be shared or not). The selection
   of registries for these pending TLDs is the second IAHC function. Each
   pending TLD's charter is completed by the creation of the delegation
   license to the applicable registry.

5. The end result is a properly defined name space that will satisfy the needs
   of both the "public trust" of the namespace, as well as the commercial
   viability of registration services.

Regards,

Simon

--
If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.