RE: [wg-c] new TLDs

["Sportack, Mark A, CSCIO" <msportack@att.com>]

Karl, 

You raise some very interesting points about a possible .BANK TLD. Rather
than use these points to prove that chartered TLDs lead to silliness, I
would suggest that your many specific questions prove that a LOT of thought
is required before sanctioning a chartered TLD. This is consistent with Wm.
Walsh's statements that a high threshold of need should be proven first. I
also believe that, done properly, chartered TLDs can be a meaningful way of
expanding the Internet's namespace. This shouldn't be misconstrued as
meaning that namespace expansion can only be done within the confines of a
chartered namespace (TLD or SLD -- maybe ".bank.us" is the most appropriate
solution...). Done properly, and with due diligence paid to the requisite
processes/mechanisms/policies/etc. chartered namespaces can facilitate
discovery on the Internet by providing a very focused, mnemonic aggregation
of lower-level resources. 

It's easy to find reasons why something *can't* work. However, it is vastly
more constructive (albeit, more difficult) to find ways to make something
work. Chartered namespaces are no exception. I must believe, given the vast
cumulative skills of WG-C's membership, that we can find ways to make this
work. 

Mark Sportack 

-----Original Message-----
From: Karl Auerbach [mailto:karl@CaveBear.com]
Sent: Wednesday, December 22, 1999 12:43 PM
To: Milton Mueller
Cc: wgc
Subject: Re: [wg-c] new TLDs



> Your proposal for a .BANK tld is an interesting idea, and one
> example of literally hundreds of possible applications of new
> tlds.

Does this include savings and loans?  Credit unions?  Investment banks?  
The US Federal Reserve?  My stock brokerage offers many bank-like
services, so I guess they can be a .BANK too.  What about food or blood
banks? How about SoftBank?  How about a web site on how to bank billiard
shots?  And we can't forget the man who broke the Bank at Monte Carlo or
the booksellers on the Left Bank in Paris. Nor should we forget about our
friend the Piggy Bank.

And our English-centricity is showing: Will we need the equivalent word as
TLDs in other languages?

Chartered TLDs lead to sillyness.

		--karl--