Tue, 07 Jan 2003 18:58:05 GMT
A Call for CIRA Reform.
Tim Denton has posted a memo that was recently distributed to dotCA
registrars,
the
registration authority's board of directors, and Canadian government
officials. On a number of points, this document calls for what can only
be dubbed "CIRA Reform".
As Tim puts it on
his homepage,
"After a year of operation, and measurable progress and improvement, I
am calling for both the Board of the Canadian Internet Registration
Authority (CIRA), together with the federal government, to review how
CIRA is working in the public interest. Issues to be examined include:
- opening the policy process to public participation
- the role of corporation law in the functioning of CIRA
- whether other registry models should be examined
- dealing with monopoly rents from registry operations
- role of appointing organizations
- registrar-registry relations and efficiency of business processes"
Excerpt:
"As a general rule, CIRA must start to have a more public form of
discussion on a broad range of issues as a normal part of its business.
I have observed ICANN from close-up for several years. I know that
ICANN's board still remains firmly in charge of the affairs of the
corporation, despite very open processes of debate, and despite
organized forums for the consideration of ICANN issues by business
groups affected by those decisions. I see no reason why CIRA should not
be organized on a similar basis. One of the measures of reform that I
hope will emerge from this current crisis is a formal revision of CIRA's
by-laws to ensure public consultation on most issues as a normal part of
business.
In addition I am writing in a more public way because I see the CIRA
Board being paralyzed by a faction intent on pursuing ends completely
removed from customer service, an efficient registry, and a competive
registration market. The immediate goal of these machinations is to
paralyze the Board by delegitmizing it, and to do so it must be claimed
that registrars have no business on it except under the terms they
dictate. This is wrong and must be repudiated. The reasons why are
advanced below in section B.
The method of this takeover is the doctrine of conflict of interest
pursued as if there were no other concerns and goals of CIRA, a triumph
of process over substance. I argue that ideas drawn from corporation law
need to be balanced against competing concerns, including the control of
a monopoly. For the same reason I also think that a fundamental review
of the assumptions governing the CIRA model needs to be conducted under
government asupices or with government approval and interest.
...the advocates of the consumer interest and the public good on the
Board of CIRA are on record as opposing price decreases and the creation
of a strategic plan for CIRA. The advocates of the private sector have
proposed price decreases which competition generally obliges them to
pass on to the Canadian consumer. They have argued for the creation of a
strategic plan to focus CIRA management on rational sales objectives,
and they have supported the President in allowing him to buy the
equipment to get this job done, and to create prudent financial reserves
.
I leave to your judgment as to whose behaviour is more responsible and
better inhclined to the health of CIRA and the registry system it
upholds. Who is serving the public interest?"
Heady stuff...
[Note: For some reason, post by mail is screwing up again. I've had to
use a redirect to point to Tim's original document above - I'll fix
things when I get home.
]
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