Any ideas if this affects the planned gTLD's?


>FYI. Interesting stuff. Haven't read the plan yet.
>
>
>The Clinton administration has released its long-awaited
>plan to privatize the central nervous system of the
>Internet. The four areas it covers: numerical/IP addresses,
>domain name registration, root server databases of domain
>names, protocol and port numbering.
>
>The working paper is up at the Department of Commerce site:
>  http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/domainname/dnsdrft.htm
>
>It calls for a new corporation to be formed, with
>international representation, that would take over
>responsibility now shared by the Internet Assigned Numbers
>Authority and Network Solutions. Domain name registration
>woud be shared and competitive.
>
>On some of the most contested points, the paper suggests a
>(usually quite reasonable) solution but ducks and asks for
>more feedback. For instance, trademark holders, especially
>owners of "famous marks" who enjoy special protection under
>U.S. law, have been demanding special treatment. "We seek
>comment on this proposal," the paper says. Or should just
>the first firms to sign up as domain name registrars be
>allowed in the door? Probably not, but "we welcome
>suggestions."
>
>I've just had a chance to read it through once, quickly,
>but my initial take is that it's smartly done; I admit the
>proposal is better than I expected. It breaks Network
>Solutions' government-granted monopoly on .com, .net, and
>.org. It doesn't kowtow to the demands of trademark owners.
>It tries to figure out what to do with the heretofore
>useless .us domain and hints at moving .gov and .mil under
>it. Not a bad start, though we should keep a close eye on the
>next steps, including the makeup of the board of directors
>of this new corporation...
>
>I'd be happy to forward other views.
>
>-Declan
>
>====
>
>An excerpt:
>
>1. The new not-for-profit organization must be established
>and its board chosen.
>
>2.The membership associations representing 1) registries
>and registrars, and 2) Internet users, must be formed.
>
>3. An agreement must be reached between the U.S. government
>and the current IANA on the transfer of IANA functions to
>the new organization.
>
>4. NSI and the U.S. government must reach agreement on the
>terms and conditions of NSI's evolution into one competitor
>among many in the registrar and registry marketplaces. A
>level playing field for competition must be established.
>
>5. The new corporation must establish processes for
>determining whether an organization meets the transition
>period criteria for prospective registries and registrars.
>
>6. A process must be laid out for making the management of
>the root server system more robust and secure, and, for
>transitioning that management from U.S. government auspices
>to those of the new corporation.
>
>
>
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Larry Bloch                              email:  larry§netregistry.com.au
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