Re: [ICANN-EU] coming late / root-server

[Marc Schneiders <marc@schneiders.org>]

On Thu, 12 Oct 2000, Gerhard Wendebourg wrote:

> Sorry if I got wrong information on the handling of the root-server.
> I got this info from "der Spiegel"
> http://spiegel.de/spiegel/0,1518,97119,00.html
> 
> "Auf die Tagesordnung soll auch die bisher peinlich vermiedene Frage, wann
> der Root Server der amerikanischen Regierungskontrolle entzogen und das
> System dezentralisiert wird. Die Wurzel des Netzes dürfe nicht auf ewig
> "der Faustpfand der US-Regierung gegen nicht genehme Entscheidungen
> bleiben", fordern beide Kandidaten unisono."

I think they are talking about the ONE primary authoritative root,
a.root-servers.net. The other root-servers.net mirror this one. 

> Why not regional administration and control of the root-server ?
> If we have a central control the US-government is going to be the
> world-government for the internet-administration.

It is totally irrelevant who is administering the other
root-servers. What is relevenat is what they are mirroring. As long as
the sysadmins make sure the machines work, I am happy. What we should
be concerned with is the policy of the bodies that decide what is on
the primary root server, presently ICANN and the DoC. 

> But why can't the european not act independent, and administrate their own
> root ?

Because if Europe (whatever that would mean) would act independently,
some domains/addresses would only work in Europe, or for people who
deliberately configured their computer to get domain name information
from the European server or one of its mirrors. It would end global
internet. For a while at least.

> If the european Internet-Provider mostly decide, to grep their information
> on IP's,  and domains from an european administrated root, what have we to
> care for an US-dominated Internet ?

Indeed, that time may come. The ccTLDs are in semi-mutiny already. I
hope not though that there will be a break, and two or more
'roots'. Will be awfully confusing, especialy for ordinary
users.

> Of course it needs a bit of synchronizing, but this cannot be the real
> problem.

:-))))

-- 
Marc Schneiders (rest in header)


> At 02:15 12.10.00 +0200, you wrote:
> >On Thu, 12 Oct 2000, Gerhard Wendebourg wrote:
> >
> >> Have we to accept, that the US-Government is the last instance behind the
> >> ICANN ? Why not to establish one root-server in the EU, and maybe one more
> >> in Africa, Asia and Australia ?
> >
> >i.root-servers.net is in Stockholm
> >k.root-servers.net is in London
> >m.root-servers.net is in Keio (Japan)
> >
> >See: http://www.wia.org/pub/rootserv.html (this may be slightly
> >outdated)
> >
> >Of course they are under US government authority, ultimately. 
> >
> >Yes, why not, set up a few around the world, I would like to have some
> >new gTLDs added. Can I send you my list?
> >
> >-- 
> >Marc Schneiders (rest in header)
> 
>