Re: [wg-c] nsi proposes to create new gTLds

[Kent Crispin <kent@songbird.com>]

On Tue, Apr 18, 2000 at 09:45:55PM -0400, James Love wrote:

God here I am defending NSI...

> This is just a shot in the dark, but if the point is to create some
> competition, why don't we have competitive proposals to compete with
> NSI, rather than just have NSI run the registry that is supposed to
> compete with NSI?

The proposal doesn't say that.  The proposal says:

  "Regarding an open TLD, to introduce a proof of concept with the least
  delay, while still assuring sound operations and stable application of
  established policies, ICANN could contract with a registry that is
  created and operated by all willing ICANN accredited registrars on a
  cooperative basis."

The registry is to be created and operated on a cooperative basis by
"all willing ICANN accredited registrars", not by NSI.  NSI unselfishly,
and with only the most community minded of motives, offers to contract
out support services to this registry, but that would clearly be the
decision of the registry. 

Similarly for the chartered example (.banc), NSI is not the registry:

  "A key element in any such chartered TLD is coming up with the proper
  structures to serve as the registry and the gatekeeper.  Here, we
  would hope that ICANN could rapidly act in concert with banking
  industry representatives to bring together a core group that would
  develop into these structures."

Once again, NSI graciously offers to act as a simple contractor for 
support services, but the decision is still up to the sponsoring 
agencies, not NSI.  Once again I am struck by NSI's unselfish and 
public spirited approach to this issue.

Moreover, the whole proposal is just presented as an example of 

  "How New Internet Top-Level Domains could be Introduced Rapidly on a
  Sound Basis"

Note the phrase "could be Introduced" in the title.

> And why should NSI choose the strings for the new
> registries that compete with .com, .net and .org?

They didn't choose.  They made a suggestion.  Just like I make
suggestions.  Just like you make suggestions -- why should *you* get to
choose strings, anyway?

> And, why does NSI get a say on this at all?

Freedom of speech.  Something like that, at least.  Anyway, how would 
you propose to stop them?

> Doesn't NSI have a conflict
> of interest or something?

Nope.  Any halfwit can make suggestions.  No law against it...  :-)

Kent

-- 
Kent Crispin                               "Do good, and you'll be
kent@songbird.com                           lonesome." -- Mark Twain