This issue is one of the most important and most difficult for us to
discuss, with respect to the Green Paper. The IAHC was started on the
basis of developing enhancements that would encompass com/net/org and all
additional TLDs not related to country codes. We simply did not see a need
for multiple registries but we very much did see the kinds of problems that
have just been reviewed on this list.
However time and discussion and political realities change.
First, the political reality is clear. There is very strong support for
multiple registries.
Second, there is a legitimate basis for that support. Independent of the
profit/non-profit status of an organization, if it has exclusive control
over a valuable resource, there is a tendency for it to become expensive,
bloated, unresponsive, etc. People respond to competition, since it
threatens their sense of security. Further, competition tends to produce
innovation. While I think that the structure defined in the gTLD MoU is a
good one, it is by no means the only good one that is possible.
I strongly suggest that we pursue a path which is comfortable with more
than one registry over non-country code TLDs.
My current feeling is that the important criteria which MUST apply to ALL
such registries is that they be required to operate:
1. With strict cost-recovery, non-profit finances
2. With public oversight
In other words, they must not be allowed to bloat their budgets or their
profits. A registry "captures" its customers, since a customer changing
registries means changing domain names and this is expensive and damaging
to the customer.
Public oversight ensures appropriate rules for the registry and
reasonable/stable strategic responsiveness. I've come to believe that the
competition from multiple registries will primary ensure daily responsiveness.
d/
--------------------
Dave Crocker +1 408 246 8253
Brandenburg Consulting fax: +1 408 249 6205
675 Spruce Dr. dcrocker@brandenburg.com
Sunnyvale, CA 94086 USA http://www.brandenburg.com