[registrars] Issues associated with the introduction of changes in services provided by a registry operator

["Bruce Tonkin" <Bruce.Tonkin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hello All,

Barbara Roseman is producing an issues report on the introduction of new
registry services.
The report will catalogue issues raised, and provide some comments for
and against particular positions.

The initial set of issues is provided below.

If you have additional issues that should be added please respond on the
registrar list.

Regards,
Bruce Tonkin


From
http://www.icann.org/gnso/issue-reports/draft-registry-svcs-report-31oct
03.htm

1. Issues Concerning the Development of Procedures

1.1 Is it possible to develop a process for evaluating the introduction
of new registry services while preserving appropriate market
competition?

1.2 Should the focus of a process be instead on changing registry
contracts to heighten technical and stability considerations?

1.3 Is it possible to introduce any new registry services in the top
level domains without affecting global interoperability of the DNS, that
registry, or the Internet, regardless of the process followed?


2. Issues Concerning Current Process

2.1 Do the current registry contracts contain a process for evaluating
new registry services prior to implementation?

2.2 Who performs the evaluation of new registry services under the
current process

2.3 Are there sufficient enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance
with the current process?

2.4 Who is responsible for enforcement?


3. Issues Concerning Classification of New Registry Services

3.1 Who will determine which new services are subject to the
introduction process?

3.2 Will this introduction process be an adjunct to the registry
contract, or will it be an element of the contract?

3.3 Will there be distinct limits to the scope of registry services to
which the process is applied?

3.4 Will the existence of this process stifle innovation in registry
services?


4. Issues Concerning Enactment of New Process

4.1 Should the introduction process be performed by ICANN staff, perhaps
using identified experts in specific areas?

4.2 Should new registry services be reviewed prior to their
introduction, or after their introduction?

4.3 Who will initiate the introduction process?

4.4 Is it reasonable to differentiate between registries based on formal
or informal criteria, such as sponsored/non-sponsored;
dominant/non-dominant; for-profit/not-for-profit; etc.

4.5 Is it appropriate to differentiate between public and private
registries during the evaluation?

4.6 What is an appropriate time frame for the introduction process?

4.7 What will be the appeals process?

4.8 How will enforcement be managed?


5. Issues Concerning Services Competition

5.1 If new registry service is not unique to a single point of
provision, will that service be opened to competition?

5.2 Will it be necessary to have the registry provide the new service,
or can some new services be developed and introduced by a separate
company?

5.3 Should new registry services be launched in a competitive fashion?

5.4 How should the value of uniformity of user experience of the DNS be
weighed against marketplace choice and registry differentiation?


6. Issues Concerning Services Particulars

6.1 What weight should be given to the opinions of the communities
served by a registry regarding new registry services, which in the case
of top-level domains can be interpreted as the entire set of Internet
users?

6.2 What evidence should the registry provide as to the affect of the
new service on existing DNS practices?

6.3 What weight should be given to the functionality of the new registry
services? 

6.4 Is it sufficient for a new registry service to comply with current
best practices and standards?

6.5 Should there be a method of initiating new standards requirements as
a part of the process development?

6.6 If new registry services are deliverable at other points in the
network besides the core of the domain, should that be a factor in the
introduction process?

6.7 Will the introduction of a new registry service be extensible to
other registries?

6.8 Should new registry services include an "opt-out" function?


7. Issues Concerning Non-GNSO Stakeholders

7.1 At what point in the introduction process will the non-GNSO
stakeholders participate?

7.2 What weight will be given to the opinions of other stakeholders,
such as the ICANN Security and Stability Advisory Committee, or the
IETF, in the introduction process?

7.3 Will there be mechanisms of participation in the introduction
process to ensure the appropriate technical questions are raised and
answered to protect operational stability, reliability, security, and
global interoperability of the DNS, that registry, or the Internet.

7.4 Will there be mechanisms of participation for other Supporting
Organizations or Advisory Committees?

7.5 Who will make determinations on the weight of various opinions in
the final decision?


8. Issues Concerning Services not Subject to New Process

8.1 Will there be an attempt to subject existing services to the new
introduction process?

8.2 Will existing services be "grandfathered" without evaluation?

8.3 If a registry service offering is not considered subject to the
introduction process, will there still be timelines imposed for the
introduction of the service to the DNS community?

8.4 Will there be a possibility for re-appraisal of a new registry
service that is introduced without going through the introduction
process?