Media Visions - Governance Voices

Voices .from the Committees of Correspondence
. Read their words to know their visions.

Jay Fenello

Jay Fenello operates Iperdome for registering names under the ".per" TLD. He's been associated with AlterNic, yet is independent.

Jay Fenello

President,

Iperdome, Inc.

Atlanta, Georgia

404-250-3242

mailto:Jay@Iperdome.com

http://www.iperdome.com

(c) 1998 by Jay Fenello.

Used with permission.

What I find truly ironic is the chaos the entire IAHC process has created in the Internet community. Their arrogance about their dominion over the root, and their claim to rightful ownership of such valuable properties like .com and .web have created the conflicts we are now experiencing.

A fundamental question is why the IANA, a U.S. Government funded contractor, should be allowed to "give" seven new gTLDs to its self-selected represent-atives (especially when it negotiates behind closed doors, sets up a Swiss-based cartel, ignores prior Internet precedents, and is generally regarded as an inap-propriate power grab). Why should the IANA be allowed to *exclude* already operational [alternative] TLDs and registries?

Consider for a moment if Reed Hundt, as head of the FCC, had decided to allocate a portion of the radio spectrum to a group that he formed, supported, appointed members to, and had an ongoing and permanent role in. Imagine if this group met behind closed doors, came up with an impressive sounding plan, and got all of his friends and associates to sign. Imagine if this new plan took radio spectrum away from already operational entities, and excluded all other applications for radio spectrum. Imagine if this new organization was set up as a Swiss-based cartel, beyond recourse to U.S. interests. Well, this is similar to Jon Postel's arrangement with the IAHC. It was wrong when it
was announced, and it is still wrong now. [snip]

If the IAHC plan succeeds, much of what has made the Internet great will be lost. No longer will free-market competition drive new products and services. Instead, a great engine of change in our lifetimes will be relegated to the dark ages, where a small group of people who are accountable to no-one control major aspects of the Global Internet Infrastructure.