[WSIS CS-Plenary] Re: [governance] oversight

[james.archibald at mcgill.ca]

See the editorial in Sunday's NYTimes: "Worldwide but Homegrown" (30 Oct 2005).
J. Archibald


Quoting Joe Baptista <baptista at cynikal.net>:

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> _______________________________________
>
>
> On Sun, 30 Oct 2005, Edward Hasbrouck wrote:
>
> > More than 6 months ago, I made a formal request for independent review of
>
> Only six months Edward?  Some people have been waiting years for a
> response.
>
> > (4) Other parties (individuals, corporations, governments) could "route
> > around" ICANN by acting independently, e.g. by establishing alternative
> > roots.  This seems to be the only oversight mechanism that doesn't depend
> > on voluntary cooperation by ICANN and/or the USA government.
>
> That is what is happening.  China has gone down this road as has
> Turkey.  People are finding alternatives to the ICANN mess.  Unfortunately
> non of these alternatives are well co-ordinated and as such go nowhere.
> That includes the China and Turkish root systems.
>
> The problem with the DNS is that it requires a centralized record system
> to provide the glue records to maintain the root.  And non of the
> alternative systems can agree on a central point of control - so nothing
> of significance ever happens.
>
> We came close with the Public-Root.  Even managed to get the national
> government of Turkey involved.  Unfortunately due to scandal the
> Public-Root a.k.a. United-Root a.k.a. Unified-Root is now a complete
> failure.
>
> I expect in the long run countries will start their own root systems.
> This will have two results - 1) it will provide countries with an
> excellent bargaining mechanism and 2) it will provide some benefits on
> resolution - i.e. speed and enhanced privacy for users.
>
> I also expect in the long run such unco-ordinated root systems will cause
> serious technical problems and result in breakage of the networks.  But
> eventually this will be solved through an agreed upon central
> administrative entity that will preserve the operational stability of the
> global Internet by providing public access to the coordination, management
> and distribution of elements and identifiers used to delegate Top-Level
> Domains in the root system.
>
> But that will only come about when we accept that control can only be
> accomplished through an open, transparent, accountable, representative and
> inclusive processes.  That will happen when the control freaks in both the
> private and public sector realize they have no other option but to give
> up.
>
> cheers
> joe baptista
>
> Joe Baptista, Official Public-Root Representative and Lobbyist to the
> United States Congress and Senate / Tel: +1 (202) 517-1593
>
> Public-Root Disclosure Documents: http://www.cynikal.net/~baptista/P-R/
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