[Webdev] .ie domain registry - heads up!

[adam]

[Please send responses to <comments at iewatch.org>.]

Hi there,

Do you  have concerns about the .ie domain registry? This email is about
practical action you can take to help improve the current situation.

IE Watch is a group that is concerned that the .ie domain registry be
prudently and fairly managed. The .ie domain registry is in charge of
registering domain names ending in '.ie'. We would like to see the .ie
domain being governed in an open, transparent way by a structure which
reflects the Irish
industry and community.

We feel it is time to write directly ICANN, IANA and the Department of
Public Enterprise, with the support of as many parties as possible. (ICANN
and IANA are the bodies in charge of the overall management of Internet
domain names.)

This letter will show the disaffection with the current situation is
widespread, and not confined to a small group; and will ensure that our
concerns are publicly documented, and cannot be passed over easily. It is
important that the letter IE Watch writes:

 - has the support of concerned people in the industry;
 - is based on their real concerns;
 - is coherent and to the point.

We would like to take a wide variety of input into account in drafting the
letter. If you support us, please let us know. You can also let us know your
concerns about the .ie domain registry, taking the following into
consideration when responding:

- keep your contribution brief, if possible;
- place "CONFIDENTIAL" in the subject line if you do not wish your
contribution to be disclosed without your consent;
- submit your comments on or before 14 April 2002.

The letter will be drafted by Antoin O Lachtnain, Mike Norris, Adam Beecher
and Alex French. All the feedback provided will be taken into account.

We now need your support to help us make our concerns known. We will be
coordinating our work with the efforts of other bodies, and we have
established links to ensure that this happens.

When the letter is completed, we will publish it and you will be able to
co-sign the letter. The identity of signatories will be on public record.

Please send us your contributions as soon as possible. You can send your
contribution by email to <comments at iewatch.org>.

Please forward this message to anyone else you think might be interested and
any other relevant mailing lists.

Kind Regards,

IE Watch

Aengus Lawlor <aengusl at eircom.net>
Alex French <alex at evilal.com>
Adam Beecher <ie-watch at spamfilter.cc>
Antoin O Lachtnain (antoin at eire.com)
Geoff Boyle <Geoff at 123.ie>
John McCormac <jmcc at hackwatch.com>
Mike Norris <mike.norris at heanet.ie>
Nick Hilliard <nick at netability.ie>
Thomas Bridge <thomas at wibble.to>
Ronan Kirby <ronan at kirby.ie>


3 April 2002

The signatories wish to make clear that these are their views and not
necessarily the views of their employers.