ISSUES
Below, we have attempted to identify
some major axes of conflict in the DNS debate. Each axis represents a pole of
tension within the discussion.
|
Authority
and Process
|
|
| central coordination |
unregulated
market
|
| top-down rule-making |
bottom-up consensus
building
|
| expert management |
democratic
management
|
| cost recovery |
imposition
of tax
|
| insulated from self-identified stakeholders (independent of political pressures or unaccountable?) |
controlled
by self-identified stakeholders (captured by special interests or reflective
of community consensus?)
|
|
Registrar
Accreditation
|
|
| stability |
easy entrance
for competition
|
| consumer protection |
market competition
|
|
Supporting
Organizations
|
|
| technical expertise |
non-technical
considerations
|
| decision-makers |
advisors
|
|
Domain
Names
|
|
| famous mark holders |
non-commercial
domain holders; some trademark holders
|
| uniform mandatory dispute procedures |
preference
for rights under local law
|
| special treatment for famous marks |
conflict with
other name rights
|
|
At-Large
Membership
|
|
| accountable to constituents |
accountable
to special interests
|
| open to all Internet users |
address/name
holders only
|
| individual members only |
corporation
and organizational members
|
| financially self-supporting |
open to anyone
regardless of income
|
| online elections |
authenticating
voter identity
|
| cost to administer election |
cost of fraudulent
results
|
| representational democracy |
protection
of minority interests
|
|
Government
Participation
|
|
| efficiency of private enterprise |
protection
of governmental procedures
|
| rapid response |
layered bureaucracy
|
| direct connection to consumer |
intervention
of international treaty
|
|
Internal
Review
|
|
| attorney-general of California |
international
body
|
| paralysis pending litigation |
efficient complaint
process
|
|
Root Server
|
|
| single, trusted authority |
root competition
|
| open, redundant system |
security
|