Re: History & current events (RE: [ga] About GA membership again......)

[Simon Higgs <simon@higgs.com>]

At 07:36 PM 4/4/00 +0200, Roberto Gaetano wrote:

Be careful what you wish for. With knowledge of history on your side, you 
are now a supporter of the "rogue effort". :-)

>Simon Higgs wrote:
> >
> >I like the analogy, but what "happened yesterday" does not overlap with
> >pre-history. ICANN has recently started the accreditation of registrars
> >and opened competition to NSI at that level. Pre-history, as you call
>it,
> >is the prior TLD application(s) to IANA, via the sanctioned RFC1591
> >process, to create new TLDs in the root, and authorize and delegate
>these
> >new TLDs to new registries (i.e. back-end registries to registrars,
> >further opening competition, etc.). This has not been done.
>
>Right.
>And, IMHO, it will never be done this way.

Never say never. Semantics get in the way. As you'll see below.

>Some applications were gathered (BTW, for which Jon pointed out that no
>guarantee for further processing could be granted), and set aside
>waiting for the definition of the process.
>By the time IANA lost (supposing it ever had) authority to delegate
>gTLDs, that process was not defined. Now a process may be defined (we
>all hope so), but IANA will not be the delegating authority.
>
>Before getting again into debate about continuity, may I ask whether the
>  GA finds *really* reasonable that delegation of gTLDs will be done
>simply with a FIFS process picking from that chronological list, or
>whether other considerations should apply?

Firstly, the law of the land must prevail (previously cited). This means 
you can't ignore the old applications. They can't just go away. They must 
be process against some kind of criteria. RFC1591 states first-come first 
served. Do we need to stick to that? That's all a matter of consensus. If 
we're all happy with the new proposed criteria  (i.e. revising RFC1591), 
then why not use it? Defining the criteria is also part of the "rogue 
effort" Dave Crocker is talking about. So, I'd say we have consensus so far.

>An example.
>ICANN has defined accreditation mechanisms for Registrars.
>It is, IMHO, very likely that we have to define criteria for
>accreditation of Registries, that will include guarantees about
>financial solidity, for instance, notwithstanding possible
>considerations about geographical distribution.
>These, IMHO, are going to be considerations that will have much more
>weight than an ordered list at IANA's.

I think that you've missed a major reference point. The IANA/rogue effort 
spent 99% of it's time trying to define the criteria by which all the 
applications were to be measured (i.e. revising RFC1591) - and that 
"application process" was to be the original function of the IAHC. The 
accreditation criteria was known as "draft-Postel" or "The Postel draft". 
Again, I repeat, that everyone here and WG-C should read it:

http://www.iiia.org/lists/newdom/1996q1/0482.html

Can we come up with a revised version covering new TLDs, new registries, 
and additional topics ICANN is discussing? Of course.

>To make a practical example, IODesign will be much better off in being
>able to prove to be serious about running the .web Registry (which I
>believe they do) than in relying (only) on "prior" claim (BTW, I am
>under the impression that IOD was not the first anyhow - so I assume
>that Chris will agree on this point).

We have consensus.

>Please check that list, and you will find it full of absurde claims made
>  without substance, sometimes in bulk because in any case to make such a
>  claim did not cost much more than the use of some bandwidth.

I understand, but whether I agree with you or not (I do), the law firmly 
overrides any emotional response. It's a list of domain name applications. 
They're just at the root level. Do you think this is any different from 
registrations other registries get at 2LD or 3LD? Not as far as the raw 
application goes, and therefore they must be treated properly (cite: 
RFC1591 - "the name space is recursive"). How they are processed is based 
upon community consensus, and the criteria that is shaped by both consensus 
and the prevailing law. We've seen the law intervene already, which is how 
ICANN came into existence.

>To be in that list *may* be considered an element by ICANN when making a
>  decision, but I am pretty sure that this will not be the main one, and
>probably not even a required one.

I can feel the attorneys frothing at the mouth already. The past has shown 
us that lawsuits are a clear indication of lack of consensus. I think the 
correct way to say this is "must be considered by ICANN and evaluated 
against criteria defined by community consensus." This provides equality to 
all applicants throughout the various stages of the process from the early 
days through to ICANN.

>In the meantime, things are progressing.
>Somebody may have noticed the GAC recommendations on gTLDs contained in
>their Cairo communique, for instance.

Do you have a URL for this please?


Best Regards,

Simon

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The bandwidth is out there...

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