[governance] IGC on its list

[kpeters at tldainc.org]

While there is certainly room for difference of perspective, it seems  
to me that ICANN has met every demand for greater accountability or  
openness with a new layer of bureacracy or other evasize tactic that  
resulted in no real openness or change in basic operation. It is not  
hard to tell it was spun off from government! :) Personally, I can not  
immagine why anyone outside the US would want to stay under it when  
there is no real reason they should have to. The ccTLDs are certianly  
a factor, but those are owed to every nation regardless of fees paid  
to ICANN. I doubt China will have .cn removed in protest of their  
setting up their own root!

In order for a group like this to have relevence in the age of  
multiple primary roots, this list and the body that sponsors it should  
look at establishing rules and best practices that are to be advocated  
for as many roots as possible and not just administered through ICANN.  
As ICANN loses its relevence/significance by inability to compete  
anywhere their service is not mandated by government, all the work to  
get something through the ICANN labrinth will have been an  
unsatisfying use of time and energies looking back. Whereas if you  
have developed good general guiding principles that perhaps other  
roots would apply, you would give those roots a chance to win consumer  
confidence by willing applicatiuon of your practices and thus put  
pressure ICANN has never faced before to meet the market expectations  
if it wishes to remain a force in the community.

One of the greatest challenges forseen in the eventuality of a more  
divided system of roots is the coordination of Top Level Domains  
(TLDs) the "inclusive" name space, the whole of the TLDs running in  
any and all operative roots. This was first a widely recognized  
problem with ICANN's theft of .biz from a profitable operation that  
was very actively running it, to give it to someone who would pay them  
hefty fees and run it in their root. They got away with it that time,  
in spite of untruths by Vint Cerf in his testimony before the US  
Congress (available in audio at www.tldainc.org) but now, as ONE OF  
the roots, not just THE GOVERNMENT root, they should have to consult  
further than just the US government about any particular string before  
its implementation. There must be a way to coordinate such research  
with a complete and updated reference of all active TLDs in any  
operational root. With the re-organization of the TLDA, there is a  
beginning for this underway. We would welcome your members here as  
guests to see what we are working on and toward. Perhaps the breadth  
of your experiences would help in making determinations and best  
practices of our own.

There will almost certainly be an outburst from one of this list's  
participants within hours of my post to tell you we are not ready nor  
properly run; but just consider the source and decide for yourself.  
Come visit the site at www.tldainc.org and ask some questions. Hard  
questions are welcomed!

Perhaps those of you with this type of perspective or interest can  
begin to blaze the trail for the remainder of the organization here to  
follow, whether ultimately with the TLDA or not. At least the  
conversation is started. We have a public list serve for those who  
wish to discuss these issues more clearly without tieing up this list  
too much. Just bring your findings back from time to time and share  
your wisdom and experience with us as you can.

-Karl E. Peters
k.peters at tldainc.org

Quoting Rui Correia <correia.rui at gmail.com>:

> Dear Bill and Karl
>
> I really think it is time that once and for all we deal with the ICANN issue
> and look at mechanisms to replace it with a representative, independent
> body. We gone around n circles for years over this matter, but like a
> tumour, we have to decide to have the courage to undergo srgery to remove it
> or fool ourselves that it will not do much harm.
>
> regards,
>
> Rui

____________________________________________________________
You received this message as a subscriber on the list:
     governance at lists.cpsr.org
To be removed from the list, send any message to:
     governance-unsubscribe at lists.cpsr.org

For all list information and functions, see:
     http://lists.cpsr.org/lists/info/governance