RE: [ga] Re: iCANN's protection

[Roeland Meyer <rmeyer@mhsc.com>]

> From: Dave Crocker [mailto:dhc2@dcrocker.net]
> Sent: Wednesday, April 18, 2001 3:15 PM
> 
> At 02:04 PM 4/18/2001, Thomas Roessler wrote:
> > > I'm sorry, but I think your analysis of ICANN-as-monopoly is
> > > *very* far from describing ICANN's real behavior or its real
> > > nature or even it's possible nature. I think a far better model
> > > for ICANN would be a professional society, or a industry
> > > standards body.
> >
> >Let's diregard the USG's role, and let's look at the product ICANN
> >is offering to the public: The root zone file.  ICANN is currently
> >the only source for a generally-accepted root zone, that is, ICANN
> >is a (probably natural) monopoly on the market to root zone files.
> 
> Let's just check a question about the use of the term "monopoly".
> 
> There is a type of oversight body, sometimes called a "public 
> utilities commission". 

The Public Utilities Commision that you are refering to is neither a
privately held corporation, nor is it ANY other sort of non-governmental
organization. It is a direct component of the government, a regulatory body.

> It does not provide direct service; rather it 
> oversees the work and pricing of those organizations that DO provide 
> service.  I have never heard anyone refer to such a commission as a
monopoly.
> 
> Please explain why you DO refer to a public utilities 
> commission as a monopoly.

[Not so nice a twist and you know it. I'd cut you some slack on this sloppy
logic. But, I just >know< that you're going to use it again later.]

He didn't make the connection to the PUC, you did. Please explain why you
don't think a PUC is a governmental or regulatory body. 

> If you do not refer to them that way, then please explain the 
> operational differences between the role and style of ICANN, versus such 
> a commission.

ICANN is a privately held CA corp. It is NOT a regulatory body.

However, ICANN does hold a USG contract, making it a USG contractor. Thus,
making it immune from various anti-trust regulations, as a USG agent.

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