Re: War of Internet Governance: 1995 - ????

[Kent Crispin <kent@songbird.com>]

On Mon, Nov 10, 1997 at 01:25:33PM -0500, Bob Helfant wrote:
> Bob,
> 
> The models are inherently at odds.  I suggested a model that allowed shared
> TLDs for those Registrars and customers who felt most comfortable that way
> and TLDs run by single companies for Registars and customers who wanted to
> go that route at the MoU signing in Geneva, as well as to NSI a few weeks
> later.  I told the IAHC/iPOC that allowing non-shared registries would
> possibly prove their contention that this is not what people want.
> Experience tells me us all that diferent people want different things and
> there is no need to force one view on people.  When that is done, it
> creates an oppressed group and oppression creates dissention, etc...  Maybe
> the IAHC felt it would weaken their position to embrace both camps.  For
> whatever reason, they didn't take my suggestion for world peace.  Perhaps
> if eDNS was better presented, with similar support as CORE now has, it will
> be brought in as an parallel alternative to CORE for Registrars and
> registrants with a first use protection on the TLDs to get it rolling and
> mutual agreement before any new ones are added.

When all is said and done, there is still no comprehensive plan,
procedure, or policy for adding new TLDs to the root zone.  At most,
the MOU etc gives authority for new gTLDs to POC/PAB/CORE, but there 
are other classes of TLDs, and more classes could be created.

The MOU has significant momentum at this point, and it seems quite 
likely that in a few months the new TLDs will be added to the root 
zone.  At that point even the most fervid detractors will have a hard 
reality to deal with.

It then seems likely that the focus will shift to PAB.  It is the open
membership body that will have the most direct influence on policy,
and I believe that is where the debate concerning the creation of new
TLDs will be joined.  I expect a significant influx of new 
signatories who will wish to participate in the debate.

I also predict that battle will be just as intense as anything that
has gone on before, because the existence of alternate roots will
always remain as a possibility, and the issue of name conflicts won't
go away. 

-- 
Kent Crispin				"No reason to get excited",
kent@songbird.com			the thief he kindly spoke...
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