RE: [ga] Will the .info registry be open to competitive bidding in 2006?

[mail@xxxxxxxxxxxx (admin)]

The US Department of Commerce didn't give any competition to the operation
of the registry because VeriSign had threatened to sue them.  The Dept. of
Commerce is covered by government procurement law that required them to
consider competition ... but they still didn't do it (too bad nobody
protested).  They created ICANN so the process isn't covered by the laws
(which DOC didn't follow anyway).  Given this precedent I don't think ICANN
will ever do it.

What do you think Palage?

Russ Smith



-----Original Message-----
From: owner-ga@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:owner-ga@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
Richard Henderson
Sent: Sunday, August 31, 2003 3:43 AM
To: ga@xxxxxxxx
Subject: [ga] Will the .info registry be open to competitive bidding in
2006?

What is ICANN's position on the renewal of the .info registry in 2006?

Will this contract be opened up to competitive bidding?

If so, a period of 18 months to 2 years would probably be needed to
advertise and promote this, and set up the criteria for applications.

Given the failure of Afilias to fulfil its projected marketing budgets for
.info.....

Given the inept mishandling of the Sunrise process and loss inflicted on
many consumers.....

Given the abuse of process committed by specific registrars belonging to the
Afilias cartel, in breach of the ICANN-installed agreements.....

What is ICANN's position with regard to the re-delegation of the .info
registry?

Could Tucows, and/or Enom and/or Dotster... or a separate entity from
outside the Registrar-Registry community.... step forward with a better and
more competitive package... offering, for example, $3 renewals... or even a
not-for-profit foundation?

If ICANN operates in the best interests of the public and general consumers,
surely it needs to consider whether it is in the best competitive interests
of the open market to automatically renew contracts to registries?

Furthermore, should decisions on Registry contracts be removed from the
'insider' ICANN organisation and handled by a separate organisation, to
guarantee objectivity in all decision-making?

Yrs,

Richard Henderson