Re: "Internet Names *and* Addresses"

[Jeff Williams <jwkckid1@ix.netcom.com>]

Jim and all,

Jim Dixon wrote:

> On Mon, 16 Feb 1998, Eric Weisberg wrote:
>
> >   IP address space allocation runs very smoothly; we don't
> > > need a bunch of lawyers (with all apologies) in there screwing everything
> > > up - or an expensive hard-headed CEO who hasn't a clue about the IP address
> > > space running the show and irritating everyone in sight.
> >
> > Jim,
> >
> > Please stop picking on lawyers (and the legal system).  You may need one
> > some day. Instead, follow the money.  Go after their clients.  They are
> > driving the train!
>
> IANA currently handles most of its functions very well.  These
> functions revolve around intricate technical decisions, the making
> of which involves continuous interaction with IETFers, the Internet's
> engineer cadre.
>
> Bringing in the board described in the Green Paper is pretty much
> guaranteed to screw up these functions.  This isn't about money and
> it is far removed from anything understandable by that board and
> its CEO.
>
> It works.  Don't fix it.
>
> What doesn't work is the gTLD arena, where this smooth-functioning
> machine collides head on with the world of big money, trademark and
> intellectual property rights, politics, etc.  This is where you need
> the lawyers and businessmen.

  This is unfortunatly true.  The lawyers are going to be needed with respect to
updating Trademark law.  They (Lawyers) should be restricted to this
function.  The rest should be handled by buisnessmen and technicians.

>
>
> IANA has not handled this well.  You need new blood, new ideas in
> this area.  In fact you need ...

  The IANA could use a good house cleaning.  As one of your old prime ministers
said onece, "Throw the rascals out."  Winston Chirchil.

>
>
> > Besides, who really wants to live in a jungle without law and order
> > (enforced on the individual level by YOUR lawyer) to protect those who
> > are not the top preditors?
>
> lawyers!
>
> > If you are smart, you will want representation on every policy making
> > board around, and you will send your top gladiator to those meetings to
> > protect your interests.  In most cases, it will be a representative of
> > your trade organization.  You know that the big boys will be doing
> > that.  But, in any case, the SYSTEM has to be DESIGNED by LAWyers to
> > guarantee the maximum protection for everyone, including those NOT at
> > the table.
>
> Both of these successors to IANA should be carefully designed by
> lawyers.  The first one should be designed to be small, as close to
> legally bulletproof as possible, and very technical.  Any lawyers
> should lurk well in the background.

  Agreed.  As long as those lawyers are also techies as well.

>
>
> The second should be managed primarily by businessmen with the right
> sort of expertise.  Lawyers and lobbyists should feature prominently.
>
> > Just as lawyers can't program, few programers are trained to design good
> > regulatory bodies!
> >
> > So, change your policy.  Don't kick, but, instead, KISS a lawyer,
> > today.
>
> You have misunderstood my point.  Essentially this is that the technocrats
> have done a fine job on most of IANA's functions, but screwed up the
> gTLDs.

  This is primarly becouse of a lack of good understanding of the DNS system and
a strange need for control.

>
>
> We don't want to rearrange things so that the new IANA does a fine job
> on the gTLDs -- but screws up everything else.

  Very true.  In fact the IANA should not be incontrol of gTLD's at all.  This
should
be handled by a independant international body elected by users and stakeholders.

>
>
> > P.S.  I would also like to see some "hard-headed CEO's" on these boards
> > "screwing" things up.  The ones I have in mind are from small ISPs with
> > SMALL budgets, who value every penny that goes out for hardware,
> > software, salaries, travel and promotion.  I think the expenses of the
> > entities you guys are spinning off can get out of hand without anyone
> > saying a thing--especially the big corporate types who think first class
> > air travel is a constitutional right.
>
> Exactly.  I think that what the Green Paper has in mind is a "big
> corporate type" to head up the New IANA.  We don't need this.

  I believe this assumption remains to be seen and is far too early to determine.

>
>
> >                                       Remember, there is nothing to
> > stop these entities from raising the price of registration to cover
> > whatever indulgence the mind of the administrator imagines.  What kind
> > of office space do we need?   What kind of art would you like on the
> > walls?  How many assistants for this and that?   Isn't privitization
> > grand!
>
> Yep.
>
> > PSS  Karl, the foregoing may answer your question about why these
> > functions ought to be aggregated in one organization.  Neither function
> > is large enough to require a separate building, administration, and
> > board.  We can save a lot of money by consolidation.  Perhaps WorldCOM
> > offers the best model, after all!
>
> IANA now consists of a very small group doing a good job on a reasonable
> budget.  So chop off the gTLD function and let IANA get on with doing
> a good job at the rest of it.

  Agreed.

>
>
> The gTLDs can be managed by a beefed-up and armor-plated POC.  I have
> been told on very good authority that the POC has incorporated itself
> in Delaware.

  Tha MoU groups, POC/PAB/CORE need's to be revamped as well as well
as alot of the sections within the MoU and CORE-MoU befor this would be
a workable idea.

>
>
> --
> Jim Dixon                                                 Managing Director
> VBCnet GB Ltd                http://www.vbc.net        tel +44 117 929 1316
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Member of Council                                                 President
> Internet Services Providers Association                       EuroISPA EEIG
> http://www.ispa.org.uk                              http://www.euroispa.org
> tel +44 171 976 0679                                    tel +32 2 503 22 65
>
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 Regards,

--
Jeffrey A. Williams
DIR. Internet Network Eng/SR. Java/CORBA Development Eng.
Information Network Eng. Group. INEG. INC.
E-Mail jwkckid1@ix.netcom.com