.NU Domain Has a Governance Model

["J. William Semich (NIC JWS7)" <bsemich@mail.nu>]

Hello;

The following press release, put out by the Internet Users Society -
Niue (IUS-N) and .NU Domain Ltd today, is probably the first formal
public statement by a ccTLD Administrator and Designee on its defined
rights and obligations under RFC 1591 and how it is now managing and
plans to continue to maintain those obligations:

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/990203/ma_nu_doma_1.html

Note that the government of Niue is involved in the process as a
supporter of and participant in the Internet services and systems - but
the services are privately run and funded. And the direct, managing,
participants (members of the IUS-N Council of Advisers mentioned in the
press release) include the Director of Education (High School, Primary
School and Adult Ed administrator), Director of the National Library,
Director of the Niue Division of the University of the South Pacific,
Director of Health Services, and a member of the Niue Chamber of
Commerce.

I think this public commitment and organizational structure established
by the IUS-N could make an excellent starting point for ICANN's
implementation of RFC 1591 as a responsible method for determining how
TLD registries should be established and run.

The key element here is the concept of managing TLDs and other
high-level Internet systems as a "trust" for the Internet at large, and
in involving the direct beneficiaries of the Internet in setting
direction to the fullest extent.

I also hope this helps in explaining the strong position taken by .NU
Domain Ltd and the IUS-N in our support for continuation of RFC 1591,
and for recognition of these established and ongoing governing
principles in the bylaws/application of the DNSO. 

It is the status quo ante, and a pretty good one at that.

Bill Semich (NIC JWS7)
bsemich@mail.nu
.NU Domain (Niue)