[FYI] (Fwd) FC: ICANN launches attack, condemns alternate roots for

["Axel H Horns" <horns@ipjur.com>]

------- Forwarded message follows -------
Date sent:      	Wed, 30 May 2001 10:19:51 -0400
To:             	politech@politechbot.com
From:           	Declan McCullagh <declan@well.com>
Subject:        	FC: ICANN launches attack, condemns alternate roots for domain
 	names
Send reply to:  	declan@well.com

ICANN's "discussion draft" on the topic, released this week:
http://www.icann.org/stockholm/unique-root-draft.htm

Summary: ICANN is touting the principle of "a unique, authoritative
root" for the domain name system, saying it's "a rerequisite to
Internet stability." ICANN says: "It is essential that operations
involving 'alternative' DNS roots be conducted in a controlled manner,
so that they do not adversely affect those who have not consented to
participate in them." But who decides what's a "controlled manner" or
not?

Yesterday I sent out another draft discussion paper on alternate roots
(http://www.politechbot.com/p-02077.html). One respondent said -- in
response to my offer of "If you want to write a non-antagonistic
response I'd be happy to send it out" -- the following:

>I am not able to do so. The short version would be "all he is
>proposing is replacing ICANN with a different group". The longer
>version would document the history of the lack of agreement of the
>rogue^H^H^H^H^Halternate roots, the fact that first-come-first-served
>failed the early alternative roots (.biz and .xxx are great
>examples), and the fact that some TLD names are worth so many of
>orders of magnitude more than others (.biz and .xxx are great
>examples) that the new group would have the same level of financial
>political ugliness that ICANN has, but probably distributed
>differently. Or, to put it shortly, "Because of money and politics,
>ICANN sucks and so will whatever you create; get over it".

-Declan

***********

Date: Tue, 29 May 2001 15:30:03 -0400
From: William Allen Simpson <wsimpson@greendragon.com>
To: declan@well.com
Subject: Re: FC: Alternate roots for domain names explained in IETF
draft References: <20010529103202.A18068@cluebot.com>

Pardon me, but there are a number of fallacious premises in this
document, well beyond the border into disingenousness.

In particular: "The origin of these alternative roots can be found in
the rough consensus and running code behind Draft Postel[4] (which was
subverted by the gTLD-MOU...)."

  - the rough consensus and running code was that only IANA approved
  and
    delegated iTLDs.  See Postel[4] page 3, "delegated ... by the
    authority of the IANA"; ibid page 6 "The IANA continues to
    supervise and control the creation and management aspects of the
    iTLDs", etc.

  - is it possible for a principle author and signer of the gTLD-MOU
  to
    "subvert" her/his own writings?  It is apparent to all those of us
    who actually discussed this issue with Jon Postel that he was not
    in favor of "virtual" creation of "alternative" roots.  Adamantly
    opposed, was my personal impression....

  - The process specified was not followed by these "virtual" roots,
    especially [ibid] page 6:

    5.10. Registries pay for charters, and the fees collected are kept
    in
       a fund managed by the ISOC and used for the iTLD process (such
       as for insurance against an iTLD registry withdrawal or
       collapse), and possibly to support an evolved future funding
       model for the IANA.

    Which ones paid?  Funny how these "alternatives" always seem to be
    more interesting in gathering moneys for themselves than funding
    community infrastructure.

Anyone can send a draft to the IETF.  It is an open process.  That
doesn't mean it will become adopted as a standard.

Heck, even Postel wrote a draft suggesting that registries should be
awarded iTLDs by annual lottery, to avoid any hint of capture or
"ownership" of the underlying service.  Note that one doesn't seem to
be cited by Higgs....

In any case, this draft is clearly against the existing consensus.
More like an April fools draft.

William Allen Simpson

************




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