August 17, 2002
.CN eases registration restrictions.
According to China Daily, dotCN will be a lot more open starting in September. The piece alludes to a number of policy changes including easier access for foreigners, decreased pricing as well as streamlined (and therefore shorter) registration processes.
I'm going to try and dig up some more specifics on the changes. If anyone has any pointers, please drop me a note with further information.
Froomkin doesn't collect air miles apparently...
"ICANN had no meetings in the U.S., so no one would show up," says Michael Froomkin in a typically critical piece over at ABCNews.com.
I had the privilege of attending the recent meetings in Accra. There wasn't a local participant there that didn't completely appreciate the fact that they were able to participate in the ICANN process. Whether or not Froomkin and Dvorak like it, its a big Internet out there and excluding International participation because of the "inconvenience" that it represents for North Americans is just plain wrong.
GA on DNSO Policy
The traffic on the mailing lists of the General Assembly of the DNSO often more resembles the slurred chatter of a local pub just after last call. There are times however when someone manages to bring some sobriety back to the table by bringing their thoughtfulness and insight to bear. This thread, concerning the work of the Names Council Transfer Task force (obDisclaimer - of which I am a member), possibly represents the most substantive exchange on the dynamics of ICANN policy development. I urge you to pay particular attention to what these people are saying - they are each right.
Hearing from each these individuals (or any other interested and experienced parties) concerning the substance of the current policy proposals in front of the Task Force would be especially useful at this point. The GA does have a strong role to play - it needs to start doing so.
"I value my garden more for being full of blackbirds than of cherries, and very frankly give them fruit for their songs."
- Joseph Addison, 'The Spectator'