How the hell do I stop getting these emails it really annoys me.

On Tue, 8 Apr 1997, Geoff Huston wrote:

>           INTERNET NAMING PLAN SIGNED: ADDITIONAL ENDORSEMENTS
>             SCHEDULED FOR GENEVA MEETING AT THE END OF APRIL
> 
>              WASHINGTON, DC, April 8 -- Internet governance has
> taken a major step forward, with the authorizing signatures applied
> to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which enhances administration
> and management of the Internet's domain name system.
> 
>              The document is part of a plan developed by the
> International Ad Hoc Committee (IAHC), a group of Internet experts
> formed to consider issues brought on by the rapid growth of the
> Internet, that calls for the creation of additional top level names
> and the formation of a structure to allow competing companies to
> register Internet names.
> 
>              Initial signers of the documents establishing the new
> system are the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA), the
> Internet Society (ISOC), the World Intellectual Property Organization
> (WIPO), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and the
> International Trademark Association (INTA).  They will be joined by
> representatives from industry, government, and other organizations
> who have indicated their intent to sign and participate.
> 
>              Three major corporations, Digital Equipment Corporation,
> MCI, and UUNET are among the early endorsers of the plan.
> 
>              According to Heidi Heiden, a senior executive with
> UUNET, "We are endorsing the IAHC plan because it successfully
> addresses key issues and concerns and was created by responsible
> parties with strong credentials.  It is of utmost importance to
> us to see the Internet evolve as a stable and secure network that
> continues to expand without being fragmented."
> 
>              Vint Cerf, Senior VP of MCI said, "As valuable as the
> work done by the IAHC in resolving name space issues is, of more
> importance to the MCI endorsement is the maturity and stability
> the Memorandum of Understanding brings to the administration and
> future self-governance of the Internet." 
> 
>              In indicating its support, Digital Equipment
> Corporation's Vice President and Chief Scientist, Sam Fuller said,
> "As the Internet becomes important to mainstream commerce, it needs
> an open, responsible, and scaleable process for distributing domain
> names.  DIGITAL intends to work with the IAHC to help advance this
> policy framework to achieve such a naming service."  
> 
>              Representatives from organizations covering a broad
> range of Internet interests and activities will gather in Geneva,
> April 29 - May 1, to add their signatures to the Memorandum of
> Understanding.  Using principles of self-governance, the MoU
> sets up a structure and establishes policies and procedures, for
> responsible administration of the "generic" portion of Internet
> domain name space, according to Donald M. Heath, chair of the IAHC. 
> 
>              Dr. Pekka Tarjanne, Secretary-General of the ITU, said,
> "The Internet demonstrates what can be done through innovation and
> self-regulation. I welcome the IAHC's plans to phase in competition
> within generic Top Level Domains while maintaining a necessary
> stability in the Internet domain name space. This provides an
> appropriate environment for the global business community enabling
> electronic commerce to flourish. The ITU is extremely pleased to
> play a facilitating role in these self-governance activities of the
> Internet industry by acting as the depository of the MoU." 
> 
>              The plan calls for acceptance of applications from
> entities desiring to become Registrars to begin seven days after
> formal signing of the MoU, for a period of 60 days.  The firm of
> Arthur Andersen will oversee the process of applications and
> selection.  Up to 28 Registrars will be selected in the 30 days
> following close of application acceptance.  Additional registrars may
> be added, as the new structure develops and matures.  Coordination
> of registrar activities will occur through the Council of Registrars
> (CORE).
> 
>              In response to public comment, the IAHC has reduced
> the two-tier financial resources requirements for applicants, holding
> all applicants to the lower of the two tiers.  This reduces the
> barrier to entry within competitive regions but still ensures
> sufficient fiscal capabilities for organizations planning to supply
> this essential service.
> 
>              The IAHC plan balances requirements for competition
> among registrars, versus public oversight of registration activities.
> Registrars will compete directly, covering the same range of domain
> names.  To mediate their activities, the CORE will run a neutral,
> shared database repository.  All daily activities will be handled by
> the registrars themselves and by CORE.  Public interest concerns will
> be covered by the Policy Oversight Committee, a small management team,
> assisted by a much larger Policy Advisory Body, comprising signatories
> to the Memorandum of Understanding.  This structure will ensure that
> daily operations can be conducted efficiently, but policy concerns
> will receive adequate and diverse review and input.
> 
>              Vint Cerf, who was the co-creator of the Internet's
> core TCP/IP protocols, further stated, "The Internet is growing up
> rapidly and it is vital that the processes, procedures, and policies
> that define its administration be sound, stable and sustainable in an 
> international setting.  With this foundation, the Internet can become
> a solid communications platform in all sectors of commerce."
> 
>              Heath, who is also President and CEO of the Internet
> Society (ISOC), said, "We believe we have created a model for
> Internet self-governance that may be used for other issues that
> confront Internet evolution, such as privacy, content, and censorship.
> Responsible self-governance is a key factor in assuring that the
> Internet will reach its fullest potential."
>   
>              Seven new generic Top Level Domains (gTLDs) will be
> created under the IAHC plan in addition to the selection of new
> Registrars.  There are currently three gTLDs: .com, .net, and
> .org, and one registrar for those names, Network Solutions, Inc.
> (NSI).  NSI is operating under a cooperative agreement between
> NSI and the National Science Foundation (NSF).
> 
>              The IAHC plan proposes the addition of: .firm, .store,
> .web, .arts, .rec, .info, and .nom and each of the new Registrars
> will share the central repository database under any new gTLDs.
> Once the cooperative agreement between NSI and NSF concludes, the
> three existing gTLDs will be added to the shared pool.
> 
>              Heath pointed out that, "With the establishment of
> shared registries, we have avoided monopolistic possibilities and
> have created a truly competitive environment."  He continued, "If
> someone registering a name through one of the new Registrars is
> displeased with the service, they have the option of using other
> registrars."
> 
>              In addition to names and Registrars, the IAHC plan
> addresses issues of intellectual property and creates several
> innovative administrative processes to resolve conflicts which
> may arise when a second-level domain name is registered under
> a gTLD.  In the future, it will be very difficult to hoard or
> warehouse names for resale.
> 
>              Taking advantage of the Internet itself, and in
> cooperation with the World Intellectual Property Organization
> (WIPO), the plan establishes on-line procedures for arbitration
> and mediation as well as a proactive method to challenge the
> registration of strong trademarks by someone other than the
> owner.
> 
>              It is anticipated that registrations under the IAHC
> plan would begin in third quarter 1997.  There is no provision 
> for name reservation or "pre-registration" prior to the time
> when the new registries are functional according to Heath.  "We
> are aware of several solicitations to register second-level names
> under the new TLDs and want to make it clear that those activities
> are not sanctioned by the IAHC, or any of its sponsoring
> organizations," he added.
> 
>              The International Ad Hoc Committee (IAHC) was
> established in October of last year to satisfy the requirement for
> enhancements to the Internet's global Domain Name System (DNS).
> Organizations naming members to the committee included: Internet
> Society (ISOC), Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA), Internet
> Architecture Board (IAB), Federal Networking Council (FNC),
> International Telecommunication Union (ITU), International
> Trademark Association (INTA), and World Intellectual Property
> Organization (WIPO).  The full text of the IAHC report, the
> associated MoU, and legal documents are published at the IAHC
> Internet site: http://www.iahc.org.
> 
>                         # # # # # # # #
> 
> Internet Society
> 12020 Sunrise Valley Drive
> Reston, VA  20191-3429
> TEL 703-648-9888
> FAX 703-648-9887
> E-mail info§isoc.org
> http://www.isoc.org
> http://www.iahc.org
> 
> 
> 
> 
>