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

[Karl Auerbach]

I can see that we are diametrically of different minds on the 
desirability of competing root systems - provided that they are 
consistent with one another (I suspect that neither of us want 
inconsistent root systems to arise and, if they did, we would both hope 
that internet users would shun them back into non-existence.)

I'm glad you did not raise the non-issue that competing roots are 
technologically impossible or would cause the internet sky to fall, the 
stock markets to collapse, and the internet revert to paper tape carried 
by pigeons (IP over Avian Carrier - RFC1149).

The main point that I draw from our discussion is that competing roots, 
while clearly subject to disagreement about their merits, are feasible 
and, indeed, can not be technically prevented should someone undertake 
the effort (and risk to their money) to give it a try.

Nor does there seem to be any legal way to prevent 'em, apart from the 
obvious matter that any misrepresentation about their visibility and 
usability would violate local laws found in pretty much every 
jurisdiction around the world.  But if consumers are given the 
information to make knowing and informed choices - then such laws would 
not usually apply.

As for my .ewe TLD - it runs and resolves names.  It is in several of 
the non NTIA/ICANN/Verisign root zones.  However, as I mentioned, many, 
if not all, of those are abysmally run and do not have accurate 
delegation records.  The .ewe online registration system is only 
partially formed, but I have provided several registrations using the 
same method used when I originally got my domain names (usually from the 
NIC at SRI) - by direct contact.

That hardly makes .ewe invalid.  It is only because ICANN acts as a 
combination in restraint of trade that .ewe - and for that matter IOD's 
.web - have not had a chance to succeed (or flop) on their own merits.

If we were to simply change our mental attitudes - remove the dogma that 
says that we have to knee jerk condemn any attempt to create a new root 
system outside the NTIA/Verisign/ICANN root zone definition - then 
perhaps we might see whether the natural forces of innovation would give 
us a way out of the centralized, single point of failure for the 
internet caused by the NTIA/ICANN approach.

We should recognize that NTIA/ICANN have poisoned the soil by 
anathametizing any attempt to exist outside their catholic [lower case 
'c'] NTIA/ICANN church-of-the-single-root.  After ICANN's year 2000 
expropriation of $2,000,000 in TLD application fees and the 7 year limbo 
for those 40 applicants, investment interest has shifted elsewhere.

		--karl--
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