Re[4]: [ga] Draft Resolution

["William X. Walsh" <william@userfriendly.com>]

Hello Dassa,

Saturday, March 17, 2001, 5:54:07 PM, Dassa wrote:

|>> -----Original Message-----
|>> From: William X. Walsh [mailto:william@userfriendly.com]
|>> Sent: Sunday, 18 March 2001 12:40 PM
|>> Subject: Re[2]: [ga] Draft Resolution
|>>
|>> I don't agree.  Non-competitive systems tend to lead to higher prices
|>> and costs, and less efficiency.

> Hi WX

> That would depend on the structure used.  A number of the ccTLD's Registries
> operate as non-commercial entities.  I see no evidence this has led to
> inefficiencies or higher costs.

Have you looked at the prices being charged in many of these ccTLDs?
I've seen some as high as $1,000 a year.

I also say, though, that the ccTLDs as a group are not a good example
for these kinds of issues.

> I see the Registries as being a major part of the infrastructure, not as part of
> the commercial interests.  At the Registrar level, competition and commercial
> factors should be encouraged, this is the level it belongs, where the consumers
> are.  If we follow your reasoning, ICANN should itself be a commercial entity.

ICANN isn't a supplier though.  At least in my opinion they shouldn't
be.  The registries are suppliers to the registrars.

Under this logic, car makers would be non-profit, since the car
dealers are the ones who deal with the public.

I can't support that kind of a model.  Registries should be
competitive as well.

> I've seen this argument raised a number of times but I still fail to see it in
> practical examples.

Look at any industry where there is a monopoly at play.   It was
pointed out in the Microsoft trial, for instance, that had the OS
market been competitive, like the Accounting Software market for
example, the price of the OS would have been vastly lower over time,
rather than progressively increasing in price as MS's Operating system
prices were.  Also, between versions, less innovation in actual
enhancements and benefits were seen, compared to other more
competitive aspects of the software industry.

The market should drive the policies, in a competitive environment,
non-profit "control" lends itself to a more "controlling" environment
by bodies like ICANN and other "regulatory" groups who may decide they
should dictate policies for TLDs.

For example, I would NOT want a group like the SBA controlling policy
for who could register in a .biz TLD.

-- 
Best regards,
 William                            mailto:william@userfriendly.com


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