Comments on: What does it take to run a TLD registry? http://blog.icann.org/2007/02/what-does-it-take-to-run-a-tld-registry/ Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:42:27 -0800 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jeff Hogston http://blog.icann.org/2007/02/what-does-it-take-to-run-a-tld-registry/comment-page-1/#comment-1629 Jeff Hogston Thu, 03 May 2007 23:39:04 +0000 http://blog.icann.org/?p=21#comment-1629 Running a TLD *is* relatively easy, but the key word 'relatively'. Of course, as demand for a TLD grows, maintaining that database will give you more chances to make mistakes, but the traffic (requests) is what will make or break you. If people can't resolve...oh, lets say, a .org. domain....nothing else matters. Now that it's been mentioned, I wonder how long UltraDNS (now a NeuStar arm) will be allowed to continue with their "relatively" poor performance history. (You only have to look at the DNSMon charts provided by RIPE) Running a TLD *is* relatively easy, but the key word ‘relatively’. Of course, as demand for a TLD grows, maintaining that database will give you more chances to make mistakes, but the traffic (requests) is what will make or break you. If people can’t resolve…oh, lets say, a .org. domain….nothing else matters.

Now that it’s been mentioned, I wonder how long UltraDNS (now a NeuStar arm) will be allowed to continue with their “relatively” poor performance history. (You only have to look at the DNSMon charts provided by RIPE)

]]> By: Vittorio Bertola http://blog.icann.org/2007/02/what-does-it-take-to-run-a-tld-registry/comment-page-1/#comment-90 Vittorio Bertola Thu, 22 Feb 2007 13:50:34 +0000 http://blog.icann.org/?p=21#comment-90 I was one of the people raising the point about low-cost, non-profit TLDs. Actually, the ALAC has been making this point for the last four years... On this point, I agree with Karl: I don't see why his .ewe should not have a chance to go into the root through an examination process that does not require 250'000$ of costs per application. Or why something like eu.org (see www.eu.org) shouldn't be doable as a TLD. It would just increase the offer to consumers. I was one of the people raising the point about low-cost, non-profit TLDs. Actually, the ALAC has been making this point for the last four years…

On this point, I agree with Karl: I don’t see why his .ewe should not have a chance to go into the root through an examination process that does not require 250’000$ of costs per application. Or why something like eu.org (see http://www.eu.org) shouldn’t be doable as a TLD. It would just increase the offer to consumers.

]]> By: Kieren McCarthy http://blog.icann.org/2007/02/what-does-it-take-to-run-a-tld-registry/comment-page-1/#comment-80 Kieren McCarthy Fri, 16 Feb 2007 08:56:27 +0000 http://blog.icann.org/?p=21#comment-80 Karl Auerbach emailed me back saying he was happy to have his post repeated here (Creative Commons licence), so here it is: ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ICANN has instituted a house blog - a house organ - sort of like Pravda during the era of the Soviet Union. So ICANN is asking "What does it take to run a TLD registry?" That's a disingenuous question. Is it asking "What does it take to run a TLD registry?" under ICANN's amazingly complex and intrusive system of business and price regulation? Or is it asking "What does it take to run a TLD registry?" in a marketplace that is free of intrusive regulations established, via ICANN, by incumbent competetors and outside interests who do not want innovation or expansion of the internet's domain name system? It turns out that to run a TLD registry under the latter conditions is pretty easy. It is relatively easy to establish, or hire, a worldwide array of name servers. And it is not that hard to build a registration system that serves the expected customer base. What is hard is being forced to build out an array of servers and registration infrastructure that has to serve a customer base the size of .com under the business rules established by ICANN. Take for example my own TLD, .ewe. I anticipate that it will provide domain name services for far less money than is possible under ICANN's rules. And it will offer a broader range of services. But I can not go into business with .ewe, at least not realistically. That's because ICANN holds the keys to the only viable marketplace. And unless I abandon my business plan and do it the way that ICANN demands I have no chance of getting ICANN's approval. It would be a waste of money even to apply and ask. So in answer to the question from ICANN's house organ - "What does it take to run a TLD registry?" The answer is obvious: ICANN should step aside, let innovators innovate - a few will succeed, some will fail - and we will find out what it takes to run a TLD registry." Karl Auerbach emailed me back saying he was happy to have his post repeated here (Creative Commons licence), so here it is:

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ICANN has instituted a house blog – a house organ – sort of like Pravda during the era of the Soviet Union.

So ICANN is asking “What does it take to run a TLD registry?”

That’s a disingenuous question.

Is it asking “What does it take to run a TLD registry?” under ICANN’s amazingly complex and intrusive system of business and price regulation?

Or is it asking “What does it take to run a TLD registry?” in a marketplace that is free of intrusive regulations established, via ICANN, by incumbent competetors and outside interests who do not want innovation or expansion of the internet’s domain name system?

It turns out that to run a TLD registry under the latter conditions is pretty easy. It is relatively easy to establish, or hire, a worldwide array of name servers. And it is not that hard to build a registration system that serves the expected customer base.

What is hard is being forced to build out an array of servers and registration infrastructure that has to serve a customer base the size of .com under the business rules established by ICANN.

Take for example my own TLD, .ewe. I anticipate that it will provide domain name services for far less money than is possible under ICANN’s rules. And it will offer a broader range of services.

But I can not go into business with .ewe, at least not realistically. That’s because ICANN holds the keys to the only viable marketplace. And unless I abandon my business plan and do it the way that ICANN demands I have no chance of getting ICANN’s approval. It would be a waste of money even to apply and ask.

So in answer to the question from ICANN’s house organ – “What does it take to run a TLD registry?” The answer is obvious: ICANN should step aside, let innovators innovate – a few will succeed, some will fail – and we will find out what it takes to run a TLD registry.”

]]> By: Patrick Vande Walle http://blog.icann.org/2007/02/what-does-it-take-to-run-a-tld-registry/comment-page-1/#comment-79 Patrick Vande Walle Fri, 16 Feb 2007 07:30:49 +0000 http://blog.icann.org/?p=21#comment-79 Veni, it really depends what you intend to do with the TLD. Say you want to run a small, not-for-profit registry, limited to a small community. Technically, it is quite simple and does not require a lot of resources, both financial and technical. Under the current ICANN model however, this is not possible, since the application fees are too high and effectively prevent those who want to run a small not-for-profit TLD to apply. Veni, it really depends what you intend to do with the TLD. Say you want to run a small, not-for-profit registry, limited to a small community.
Technically, it is quite simple and does not require a lot of resources, both financial and technical.

Under the current ICANN model however, this is not possible, since the application fees are too high and effectively prevent those who want to run a small not-for-profit TLD to apply.

]]> By: Patrick Vande Walle http://blog.icann.org/2007/02/what-does-it-take-to-run-a-tld-registry/comment-page-1/#comment-78 Patrick Vande Walle Fri, 16 Feb 2007 07:20:47 +0000 http://blog.icann.org/?p=21#comment-78 Veni, it really depends what you intend to do with the TLD. Say you want to run a small, not-for-profit registry, limited to a community. Technically, it is quite simple a Veni, it really depends what you intend to do with the TLD. Say you want to run a small, not-for-profit registry, limited to a community.
Technically, it is quite simple a

]]> By: Patrick Jones http://blog.icann.org/2007/02/what-does-it-take-to-run-a-tld-registry/comment-page-1/#comment-73 Patrick Jones Tue, 13 Feb 2007 16:24:37 +0000 http://blog.icann.org/?p=21#comment-73 Kieren, thanks for linking Karl's post. We really are taking an objective look at those functions that are critical for operation of a registry. Like Veni, I'd love to hear what people have to say on this topic. Kieren, thanks for linking Karl’s post. We really are taking an objective look at those functions that are critical for operation of a registry. Like Veni, I’d love to hear what people have to say on this topic.

]]> By: Kieren McCarthy http://blog.icann.org/2007/02/what-does-it-take-to-run-a-tld-registry/comment-page-1/#comment-72 Kieren McCarthy Tue, 13 Feb 2007 09:10:13 +0000 http://blog.icann.org/?p=21#comment-72 Karl Auerbach has responded to this - for some reason on his own blog rather than here. I will ask him if he minds having his post added here, but in the meantime, here is a link to it: http://www.cavebear.com/cbblog-archives/000298.html Kieren Karl Auerbach has responded to this – for some reason on his own blog rather than here.

I will ask him if he minds having his post added here, but in the meantime, here is a link to it: http://www.cavebear.com/cbblog-archives/000298.html

Kieren

]]> By: Patrick Jones http://blog.icann.org/2007/02/what-does-it-take-to-run-a-tld-registry/comment-page-1/#comment-70 Patrick Jones Mon, 12 Feb 2007 18:39:44 +0000 http://blog.icann.org/?p=21#comment-70 Thank you posting this Veni. Your post is timely because one of ICANN's projects for 2006-07 is to study registry failover. Your post raises issues I am looking into as part of this project. I'd like to know more about the critical functions of a registry. I hope some useful comments come in. Thank you posting this Veni. Your post is timely because one of ICANN’s projects for 2006-07 is to study registry failover. Your post raises issues I am looking into as part of this project. I’d like to know more about the critical functions of a registry. I hope some useful comments come in.

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