http://dns.vrx.net/news/by_date/old/1995/Nov/isocplan.html
Date: Sun, 1 Oct 95 09:39:37 -0500
From: Lawrence Landweber 
Message-Id: <9510011439.AA27351@parmesan.cs.wisc.edu>
Received: by parmesan.cs.wisc.edu; Sun, 1 Oct 95 09:39:37 -0500
To: isoc-advisory-officers@linus.isoc.org, isoc-trustees@linus.isoc.org
Subject: DNS Proposal

To Trustees and Advisory Council Officers: I would like to ask you not to
distribute the following outside the trustee and advisory council officer
list until there has been a chance for discussion and it is clear that
there is a consensus on proceeding.

Regards Larry
------------------------
To ISOC Trustees and Advisory Council Officers

The following proposal was developed by Brian Carpenter (Chair IAB), Jon
Postel (Director IANA), Nick Trio (ISOC Advisory Council Officer) and Larry
Landweber (ISOC President). There are MANY details to be filled in,
including precise specification of roles of each organization, IANA, IAB,
ISOC ...view the following as the FIRST DRAFT for discussion.

The process agreed upon by the above group is as follows: (1.) Distribute
this draft to solicit comments from ISOC Trustees and Advisory Council
Officers.  (2.) Based on comments, prepare an informal DRAFT 2 for
distribution to and comment from members of the IAB, IESG, ISOC Advisory
Council, CIX, government officials and other stakeholders. (3.) Based on
comments on this draft, prepare an Internet Draft for comment by the wider
Internet community. (4.) In parallel, organize a meeting (the "Internet
Operations Summit" meeting that has been discussed on the BOT list) to
present the preliminary ISOC plan and obtain further feedback. All
stakeholders will be invited to this meeting. (5.) Also, in parallel, hold
focused discussions with U.S. government officials and other key
individuals regarding the transition from the current system. (6.) Present
the DNS plan at the Dallas IETF and solicit further input. (7.)  Based on
all input received, prepare a detailed FINAL PLAN for ratification by the
ISOC BOT and the IAB.

DRAFT 1 - September 29, 1995 Outline of Proposal for the ISOC Role in DNS
Name Space Management

The Internet Society (ISOC) is prepared to provide leadership including
policy direction, coordination, and administrative oversight in the
allocation of international domain names.

In this regard, the followed is proposed:

1. ISOC will assume responsibility for the DNS name space. This will
include (a) determination of policies, procedures, processes, and standards
for the allocation of international domain names, (b) the selection,
licensing, and oversight of Internet Name Providers (INPs) who are
delegated to assign names within a designated portion of the DNS name
space, (c) dispute resolution, (d) establishing consultative and review
bodies, (e) provision of a legal umbrella for the activity, and (f)
financial oversight and accountability for funds received and disbursed by
the IANA, IAB, and ISOC for this activity.

2. The Internet Architecture Board (IAB) will be designated as the ISOC
entity that will be responsible to act on behalf of ISOC in matters
relating to the DNS name space. The IAB will be responsible for items
(a)-(d) above.

3. The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) will be delegated as the
organization responsible for implementing the policies, procedures,
processes, and standards specified by the IAB.

4. A goal of the DNS management activity will be to provide for a
competitive environment in which a choice of different INPs will be
available to customers. To accomplish this the IANA will license INPs who
will be responsible for allocating portions of the name space. To provide
for competition, new top level domains may be established. Another area for
study is the sharing of a single top level domain among multiple INPs.
While there are advantages to doing this, there are significant unresolved
questions.

5. Each INP will be required to adhere to the policies, processes,
procedures, and standards as determined by the IAB.

6. INP licensees will pay an annual fee to ISOC. Funds raised will be used
to support the DNS name space management activity described in this
document. Fee structures will be set to generate only sufficient funds to
cover the necessary core activities, and will not fund ISOC programs or
activities not connected with the DNS.

7. INPs will be allowed to determine their fees.

8. INPs will be required to obtain a designated level of liability
insurance and to, in their contract with ISOC, hold ISOC harmless for their
actions. ISOC will also obtain liability insurance to cover its designated
representatives. It will also endeavor, through the specification and
establishment of fair and open processes and dispute resolution mechanisms,
to minimize the likelihood of legal action.

10. The IAB will provide liaison, as appropriate, in this area with
national governments, international organizations, Internet Service
Providers, and industry and educational organizations and associations.

11. ISOC recognizes that while the DNS name space is international, the
U.S. government has played an important role in the development of the
Internet. ISOC will work closely with U.S. government officials to effect a
transition from the current administrative structure to the one described
above.

12. ISOC recognizes that the DNS name space is international and it is
partly for that reason that it will designate the IAB, an international
body within ISOC, to be responsible for this activity.