[ncdnhc-discuss] Decentalization proposal for ICANN Evolution and Reform

[Dave Crocker]

At 05:54 AM 4/4/2002 -0500, James Love wrote:
>This is a specific proposal for ICANN decentralization.

Given a goal of decentralization, Jamie's proposal does not go far 
enough.  Any effort at decentralization needs to be more complete.

There are two assumptions behind Jamie's proposal:

         a) it is better to have more localized control of TLDs, and

         b) coordination among multiple TLD-granting organizations is easy.

However a regional body has the difficulty of needing to obtain agreements 
among the member countries each of which has its own culture and its own 
sovereignty.  The idea of requiring a single set of rules for Japan, 
Myanmar and India, for example, strikes me as no easier than having a 
single set of TLD-allocation rules for the entire world, as we have with 
ICANN.

Consequently, I suggest that we have one TLD-granting organization for each 
country.  Each organization will apply whatever policies they wish, from 
the perspective of their country.

This leaves the trivial task of coordinating uniqueness among the 
TLD-granting organizations.

Only two questions are unanswered:

1.  What is the actual benefit of such decentralization?  Although 
decentralization is an appealing concept, it is not clear what specific 
benefits are expected in this case.  It is even less clear what specific 
benefits are likely.  Perhaps there are examples of global decentralization 
for such an operation?  That way we could understand the benefits and the 
difficulties.

2.  Will coordination of uniqueness actually be that trivial?  For example, 
what will prevent a TLD land-grab by the different granting agencies, 
instantly adding thousands -- or even millions -- of TLDs to the root. 
Although some DNS technicians believe that millions of new TLDs in the root 
will not cause a problem, others believe it will.  And what about disputes 
between the different granting agencies?

d/

----------
Dave Crocker <mailto:dave at tribalwise.com>
TribalWise, Inc. <http://www.tribalwise.com>
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