[ga] Integrity Working Group - a concept
Title: Help I'm toying with the idea of seeking ICANN accreditation for a new Registrar
company called Integrity Domains.
The process I have in mind is to gather together a Working Group (Integrity
Working Group) to plan the ethos and distinctive features of a new kind of
registrar, as well as setting out the strategy for achieving accreditation and
operating as a viable company.
To make clear, I am not interested in a project aimed at making lots of
money. My starting point is that Domain Names should be available and accessible
and transferable and manageable for millions of ordinary internet users, and the
central goal of Integrity Domains would be to SERVE the user community - with
total openness, responsiveness, and reasonable costs.
As a secondary goal, my concept is that a portion of all revenue would be
set aside to support the poorest communities with equipment, technology,
software, website hosting, domains etc to play a responsible role in combatting
globalisation and addressing the serious problems of the digital divide.
Furthermore, I think such a company would have a role in disseminating
information about ICANN, the industry, and new initiatives (including
alternative roots, Wi-Fi etc, community networks etc). We would try to establish
the closest relationships with the At Large community and put the emphasis on
ordinary people at the heart of ICANN - and attempts at standards of human
decency (not saying that there aren't already some very decent registrars -
there are).
Integrity Domains would attract consumers who want to "feel safe" about
their domains, who want transparency, and who want the registrar to truly serve
the customer, without an overriding profit motive.
I envisage that this concept would work best if it was run by a group of
people who had convictions about what needs reforming arising from experiences
of ICANN etc. Maybe 6 to a dozen individuals, some with small financial stakes,
some with none.
If you would like to comment on this tentative idea, feel free to mail me
at the Internet Challenge - richard@theinternetchallenge.com
This may be an insane idea - but what have I got to lose at this stage
except pride?
Richard
|