Re: [council] Questions for a Working Group on competing roots

["Erica Roberts" <erica.roberts@bigpond.com>]

While there is no doubt that the alternate root (whatever that is!) is an
issue of some general interest, I think we should focuss on how alternate
root systems impact on core ICANN objectives and responsibilities.  That is,
it is not our job to promote alternate roots, but to advise ICANN on policy
issues relating to its administration of the DNS.  Obviously ICANN does not
control alternate roots and is not responsible for their administration.
However, it is responsible for the tchnica administration of the DNS and
ensuring its stability and effective operation..
I would therefore suggest that the key issues for us are roughly as follows:

1.  What are the alternate roots and do they represent a threat to the
stability and effective operation of the DNS?.

2.  If the alternate roots represent a threat or potential threat to the
stability and effective operation of the DNS, how should ICANN address the
issue? What actions should ICANN take to avert the threat?

erica
----- Original Message -----
From: "Milton Mueller" <Mueller@syr.edu>
To: <council@dnso.org>
Sent: Wednesday, May 09, 2001 3:52 AM
Subject: [council] Questions for a Working Group on competing roots


>
> The Role of Competition and Market
> Forces in the Management of the DNS Root
>
> Points for a WG to explore:
>
> 1. What is a technically precise definition of an "alternate root server
> system"?
>
>     Does it include CN-NIC and other supporters of
>     internationalized domain name standards?
>
>     Does it include New.net?
>
>     Does it include efforts to use DNS to perform
>         specialized functions for which DNS was not
>         originally designed?
>
>     Does it include any other private name spaces?
>
> 2. Should the assignment of TLD strings in the ICANN
> root avoid collisions with prior assignments in
> alternate root server systems?
>     The precedent of .WEB: avoid collision
>     The predecent of .BIZ: ignore collision
>     Implications of either choice for
>                 Consumers of domain names
>                 Internet-using public
>                 Internet service providers
>                 Registrars and registries
>
> 3. To what extent is ICANN encouraging the formation of
> competing roots by artificially restricting the supply of TLDs?
>
> 4. Are there techniques available to make alternate
> name spaces interoperate with the ICANN-rooted DNS
> short of listing their TLDs in the ICANN root?
>
> 5. Can the performance, stability and service
> innovation in the supply of Internet infrastructure
> be enhanced by encouraging a greater role for market
> forces, or a more distributed structure, in the
> operation, placement, and coordination of root servers?
>
> 6. Would the technical progress of the Internet
> infrastructure be enhanced or undermined by ICANN
> policies that encourage interoperation and compatibility among different
> root server systems?
>
>
>