Re: [wg-c] definitions

[Craig Simon <cls@flywheel.com>]

I'd suggest we put aside the value-laden issue of competition and use a
more neutral definition for aTLD ... 


aTLD: ("alternate" TLD) An entry in some root zone which is visible on
the public Internet when referenced as an IP address, but which is not
included in the IANA root and is therefore not visible through the
public DNS when referenced as a domain name.



> 
> | aTLD: ("alternate" TLD) A pTLD in a root zone set up in
> |   competition to the IANA root.  These graft onto the public
> |   Internet, though the names are not reachable through the public
> |   DNS.
> 
>   gTLD: a TLD that has no enforced criteria for the entities that may
>     register in it.  This departs somewhat from the rfc1591 definition.
> 
>   Registry: a database associating DNS information with some person,
>     legal entity, operational entity, or other referrent.  Note that we
>     can speak of a registry in the abstract or in the concrete, as per
>     the definition of "database" above.  To emphasize the abstract
>     meaning we may use the terms "registry database", or possibly
>     "registry data".
> 
>   gTLD registry: a registry for a particular gTLD ("the .com registry").
> 
>   Registry operator: the organization or business that operates a
>     registry.  This distinction is very important: NSI is the operator
>     of the .com registry; Emergent was the operator of the prototype
>     CORE registry.
> 
>   Registry administrator: An entity delegated administrative authority
>     over a registry.  A registry administrator may or may not operate
>     the registry.  CORE was the administrator of the prototype CORE
>     registry.
> 
>   Registrar: an entity with a direct contractual relationship with,
>     and special access to, a registry, that inserts records on behalf
>     of others.
> 
>   Registration agent: Registrar.  Nominet makes a distinction here that
>     I don't fully understand -- if someone can explain that
>     distinction I would like to know..
> 
>   Shared Registry: a registry that allows access from multiple
>     distinct registrars.
> 
> --
> Kent Crispin                               "Do good, and you'll be
> kent@songbird.com                           lonesome." -- Mark Twain