Alternative DNS systems and net neutrality - Was: Re: [governance] DNSsec and allternative DNS system

[Meryem Marzouki]

Karl,

I'm in full agreement with your views on alternate (I do prefer the  
concept of existing alternatives, rather than competition, generally  
speaking and specially in this context) root systems, except on one  
point, dealing with how to ensure consistency:

Le 15 nov. 07 à 01:24, Karl Auerbach a écrit :

> [...]
> But the looser definition of "consistency" that I advocate, new  
> TLDs could arise - I call them "boutique" TLDs - that strive for  
> sunlight and growth.  They would, at first be found only in a few  
> root systems - perhaps because they offer something interesting,  
> perhaps they paid their way in, whatever - that's the normal task  
> of "building a brand" that goes with any new product that seeks  
> space on store shelves.
>
> Over time some of these boutique TLDs will fail, some will remain  
> tiny boutiques that are visible only within the scope of the root  
> system that offers them, and some will grow to become new members  
> of the "every root must have" club.
>
> This system permits natural growth of new TLDs without any central  
> ICANN-like authority.

There is no such "natural" growth, taking into account the fact that  
not all TLDs, and specially "boutique" TLDs can afford "building a  
brand", which is very costly, or even are intererested in building  
such brand.
There are alternatives to a "laissez-faire", marked-oriented  
approach. Since this list is - sometimes - discussing global  
governance issues, why not elaborating and discussing a way to  
guarantee that any - "boutique" or not - TLD should be found in any  
root system, *provided* that they obey some simple rules to ensure  
overall consistency (like, e.g., a TLD string should be unique: a  
unique .com, a unique .org, etc., but also a unique .karl if anyone  
finds any interest in such a TLD. And any other needed rule to ensure  
that everything works fine, technically -- and to ensure only this  
objective). It's typically a network neutrality issue.
Who would check that these rules are obeyed? Well, isn't this exactly  
the role of a global internet governance institution? Yes, I know,  
this requires a lot of elaboration and discussion, not that simple,  
but a huge step forward would be accomplished if only we could agree  
on the principle that such a discussion should be started.

> Now some will say that "what if I get email from  
> somebody at someplace.boutique-tld, how am I to answer it?"
>
> The answer is that "you don't".
[...]
>
> That's life

Not, that's not life. That's free market instead of global public  
policy in view of the general interest.
And that's certainly not network neutrality.

Meryem

--
Meryem Marzouki - http://www.iris.sgdg.org
IRIS - Imaginons un réseau Internet solidaire
40 rue de la Justice - 75020 Paris
Tel. +33(0)144749239


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