<html>
<title>
RIPE TLD-WG Workplan (Discussion Document)
</title>
<BODY BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#000000" LINK="#000099" VLINK="#6600CC" ALINK="#FF0000">
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<center>
<p>
<table width=90%><tr><td>
<em>
Title: DISCUSS-RIPE-TLD-WG-Workplan-33
<br>Date: 3 May 1999
<br>Status: Discussion Document
<br>Next Review: RIPE-33, 5 May 1999
</em>
<p>
<h1 align=center>
Discussion Document <br>
for next review of <br>
RIPE TLD-WG Workplan
</h1>
The TLD-WG workplan is an organic document that will be formally
reviewed at each WG meeting. The workplan is listed under various
sections followed by specific activities to be undertaken within each
section.
<p>
This edition of the workplan includes revisions agreed
on 28 January 1998 at RIPE 29 in Amsterdam.
<p>
<table border=0 bgcolor="#ccffcc" width=100%><tr><td>
A shaded background is used to highlight developments
relevant to the evolution of the workplan.
</td></tr></table>
<p>
<table border=0 bgcolor="#ffff99" width=100%><tr><td>
A different shading is used for proposals
to be considered at the next review.
</td></tr></table>
<p>
In the plain-text version of the document, neither of these
shadings is visible.
<p>
<hr>
<a name="index">
<h2>
Index
</h2></a>
<table width=100%><tr valign="TOP"><td>
<a href="#IANA">
<h3>
IANA and Stability of the DNS Root
</h3></a>
<a href="#proj">
<h3>
TLD Coordination Project Activity
</h3></a>
<a href="#prac">
<h3>
Documentation and alignment of practices
</h3></a>
<a href="#gTLD">
<h3>
gTLDs
</h3></a>
<a href="#govt">
<h3>
Cooperation With Governments
</h3></a>
<a href="#chrg">
<h3>
Charging
</h3></a>
</td><td align="RIGHT">
<a href="#comp">
<h3>
Competition
</h3></a>
<a href="#DNS">
<h3>
DNS Infrastructure Resources
</h3></a>
<a href="#arb">
<h3>
Arbitration
</h3></a>
<a href="#emrg">
<h3>
Emerging Registries
</h3></a>
<a href="#legal">
<h3>
Legal
</h3></a>
<a href="#tools">
<h3>
Tools and Techniques
</h3></a>
</td></tr></table>
<p>
<hr>
<a name="IANA">
<h2>
IANA and Stability of the DNS Root
</h2></a>
<table>
<tr><th align="RIGHT">Priority:</th>
<td align="LEFT">Highest</td></tr>
<tr><th align="RIGHT" valign="TOP">Open Actions:</th>
<td align="LEFT"> None </td></tr>
</table>
The independence and stability of IANA is vital for the functioning
of the DNS. In order to help preserve this the following tasks need
to be done:
<ul>
<li> Help support the following aims of IANA:
<ul>
<li> protection from litigation
<li> recognition by official governmental bodies
<li> bottom-up authority to IANA
</ul>
<li> Discuss and find a way for nTLDs to directly or indirectly
fund IANA.
<li> Formalise relationships with IANA within a bottom-up
framework.
</ul>
<table border=0 bgcolor="#ccffcc" width=100%><tr><td>
<p>
ICANN has defined the model for Supporting Organizations.<br>
These will be part of ICANN rather than separate corporations.
<p>
The Domain Names Supporting Organization (DNSO) will have its
inaugural constituency meetings and general assembly in Berlin
later this month.
<p>
CENTR has participated in the definition and formation processes
both of the DNSO and of the ccTLD constituency within DNSO.
</td></tr></table>
<h3>Proposals</h3>
<table border=0 bgcolor="#ffff99" width=100%><tr><td>
<ul>
<li>
Create two new sections to supersede this one:
<p><ol>
<li>
<cite>IANA and ICANN</cite>
<br> and
<li>
<cite>Stability of the Root</cite>.
</ol>
<p><li>
Under (1), consider
<p><ul>
<li>
participation through DNSO structure <br> <em>or</em> <br>
just leave this to registries ... ?
<p><li>
stance regarding transfer of functions from IANA to ICANN
<p><li>
stance regarding delegation relationship between
IANA/ICANN and ccTLD registries
</ul>
<p><li>
Under (2), consider
<p><ul>
<p><li>
desired responsibility for root server system
<p><li>
desired implementation of same
</ul>
</ul>
</td></tr></table>
<p>
<hr>
<a name="proj">
<h2>
TLD Coordination Project Activity
</h2></a>
<table>
<tr><th align="RIGHT">Priority:</th>
<td align="LEFT"> High </td></tr>
<tr><th align="RIGHT">Open Actions:</th>
<td align="LEFT"> None </td></tr>
</table>
Discuss and decide upon the structure of the TLD coordination
project. This project will be used to carry out actions decided
upon by the WG. The following need to be discussed:
<ul>
<li> Location of project
<li> Size of project
<li> Scope of project
<li> Funding of project
</ul>
<table border=0 bgcolor="#ccffcc" width=100%><tr><td>
Initial co-ordination project, RIPE-CENTR is to finish by 30 June 1999.
<p>
New CENTR organization, with registries as members, will have co-ordination
activity, but this seems likely not to cover all TLD-WG interests.
<p>
TLD-WG activity is expected to depend mainly on volunteer effort.
<br>
</td></tr></table>
<h3>Proposals</h3>
<table border=0 bgcolor="#ffff99" width=100%><tr><td>
<ul>
<li>
Drop this section from workplan.
<p><li>
Organise a task force for each active section of workplan.
</ul>
</td></tr></table>
<p>
<hr>
<a name="prac">
<h2>
Documentation and alignment of practices
</h2></a>
<table>
<tr><th align="RIGHT">Priority:</th>
<td align="LEFT"> High </td></tr>
<tr><th align="RIGHT">Open Actions:</th>
<td align="LEFT"> None </td></tr>
</table>
<ul>
<li> Collect and publish
information on status and current practice of nTLD registries,
with particular reference to:
<ul>
<li> publication of policy,
<li> national consultative framework,
<li> registration procedures,
<li> comparative charging,
<li> search/retrieval facilities on nTLD databases,
<li> availability of English-language versions of documentation,
<li> domain name statistics,
<li> national character sets.
</ul>
<li> Develop recommendations for best practice and alignment of practices.
<li> Publish and promote any recommendations made.
</ul>
<table border=0 bgcolor="#ccffcc" width=100%><tr><td>
RIPE CENTR project has begun collecting information.
<br>
Results to date are to be seen on CENTR Web site.
</td></tr></table>
<h3>Proposals</h3>
<table border=0 bgcolor="#ffff99" width=100%><tr><td>
<ul>
<p><li>
Identify activities complementary to CENTR work
<p><li>
Set up task force(s) for specific activities
<p><li>
Extend list of topics to cover
information of interest but no longer covered by specific
section of workplan, such as:
<p><ul>
<li> Co-operation with Governments
<li> Competition
<li> Arbitration and Dispute Resolution
<li> Legal Issues
</ul>
</ul>
</td></tr></table>
<p>
<hr>
<a name="gTLD">
<h2>
gTLDs
</h2></a>
<table>
<tr><th align="RIGHT">Priority:</th>
<td align="LEFT"> High </td></tr>
<tr><th align="RIGHT">Open Actions:</th>
<td align="LEFT"> None </td></tr>
</table>
<ul>
<li> Discuss development of gTLDs and how it affects nTLDs
<li> Decide upon desired relationship with gTLDs, CORE, POC, PAB etc.
<li> Discuss the role of NSI in domain names and its relationship to nTLDs.
Make and document recommendations.
</ul>
<table border=0 bgcolor="#ccffcc" width=100%><tr><td>
Developments are being determined by ICANN and US DoC.
<p>
This section is covered by proposed new
<em>IANA and ICANN</em> section.
</td></tr></table>
<h3>Proposals</h3>
<table border=0 bgcolor="#ffff99" width=100%><tr><td>
<ul>
<p><li>
Drop this section from workplan
</ul>
</td></tr></table>
<p>
<hr>
<a name="govt">
<h2>
Cooperation With Governments
</h2></a>
<table>
<tr><th align="RIGHT">Priority:</th>
<td align="LEFT"> Not prioritized </td></tr>
<tr><th align="RIGHT">Open Actions:</th>
<td align="LEFT"> None </td></tr>
</table>
<ul>
<li> Make contact with governmental and intergovernmental
organizations in order to promote WG ideas to them.
<li> Document and publish current state of the cooperation as it
evolves.
</ul>
<table border=0 bgcolor="#ccffcc" width=100%><tr><td>
Registries and CENTR are expected to be active in this area.
</td></tr></table>
<h3>Proposals</h3>
<table border=0 bgcolor="#ffff99" width=100%><tr><td>
<ul>
<p><li>
Drop this section from workplan
</td></tr></table>
<p>
<hr>
<a name="chrg">
<h2>
Charging
</h2></a>
<table>
<tr><th align="RIGHT">Priority:</th>
<td align="LEFT"> Not prioritized </td></tr>
<tr><th align="RIGHT">Open Actions:</th>
<td align="LEFT"> None </td></tr>
</table>
<ul>
<li> Investigate and report on whether each TLD subscribes to RIPE-152.
<li> Carry out benchmarking of charging for participant TLDs and answer
the following questions. What differences are there and why? Look
at the quality of service versus charging. What is quality?
</ul>
<table border=0 bgcolor="#ccffcc" width=100%><tr><td>
This section is covered by
<cite>
Documentation and alignment of practices
</cite>
</td></tr></table>
<h3>Proposals</h3>
<table border=0 bgcolor="#ffff99" width=100%><tr><td>
<ul>
<p><li>
Drop this section from workplan
</td></tr></table>
<p>
<hr>
<a name="comp">
<h2>
Competition
</h2></a>
<table>
<tr><th align="RIGHT">Priority:</th>
<td align="LEFT"> Not prioritized </td></tr>
<tr><th align="RIGHT">Open Actions:</th>
<td align="LEFT"> None </td></tr>
</table>
<ul>
<li> Discuss the introduction of competition to nTLDs.
</ul>
<table border=0 bgcolor="#ccffcc" width=100%><tr><td>
This section is covered by
<cite>
Documentation and alignment of practices
</cite>
</td></tr></table>
<h3>Proposals</h3>
<table border=0 bgcolor="#ffff99" width=100%><tr><td>
<ul>
<p><li>
Drop this section from workplan
</td></tr></table>
<p>
<hr>
<a name="DNS">
<h2>
DNS Infrastructure Resources
</h2></a>
<table>
<tr><th align="RIGHT">Priority:</th>
<td align="LEFT"> Not prioritized </td></tr>
<tr><th align="RIGHT">Open Actions:</th>
<td align="LEFT"> None </td></tr>
</table>
<ul>
<li>
Document recommended practice for DNS infrastructure. This is to
ensure functioning on a non-discriminatory basis and an avoidance
of bottlenecks.
</ul>
<h3>Proposals</h3>
<table border=0 bgcolor="#ffff99" width=100%><tr><td>
<ul>
<li>
Add following activities to this section:
<ul>
<li>
Track DNS technology and pilots of new features.
<li>
Avail of opportunities for co-operation with RIPE DNS-WG.
</ul>
<p><li>
Elevate priority of this section.
</ul>
</td></tr></table>
<p>
<hr>
<a name="arb">
<h2>
Arbitration
</h2></a>
<table>
<tr><th align="RIGHT">Priority:</th>
<td align="LEFT"> Not prioritized </td></tr>
<tr><th align="RIGHT">Open Actions:</th>
<td align="LEFT"> None </td></tr>
</table>
<ul>
<li> Study suitable arbitration procedures and if applicable suitable
legal jurisdictions for this.
<li> Take account of different legal traditions: Napoleonic vs
Common Law.
</ul>
<table border=0 bgcolor="#ccffcc" width=100%><tr><td>
This section is covered by
<cite>
Documentation and alignment of practices
</cite>
</td></tr></table>
<h3>Proposals</h3>
<table border=0 bgcolor="#ffff99" width=100%><tr><td>
<ul>
<p><li>
Drop this section from workplan
</td></tr></table>
<p>
<hr>
<a name="emrg">
<h2>
Emerging Registries
</h2></a>
<table>
<tr><th align="RIGHT">Priority:</th>
<td align="LEFT"> Not prioritized </td></tr>
<tr><th align="RIGHT">Open Actions:</th>
<td align="LEFT"> None </td></tr>
</table>
<ul>
<li> Detail and provide initial support for emerging registries within
the RIPE area.
</ul>
<h3>Proposals</h3>
<table border=0 bgcolor="#ffff99" width=100%><tr><td>
<ul>
<p><li>
Elevate priority of this section.
</ul>
</td></tr></table>
<p>
<hr>
<a name="legal">
<h2>
Legal
</h2></a>
<table>
<tr><th align="RIGHT">Priority:</th>
<td align="LEFT"> Not prioritized </td></tr>
<tr><th align="RIGHT">Open Actions:</th>
<td align="LEFT"> None </td></tr>
</table>
<ul>
<li> Study trademark and intellectual property issues
<li> Monitor and report and legal occurrences/changes relevant to nTLDs.
</ul>
<table border=0 bgcolor="#ccffcc" width=100%><tr><td>
This section is covered by
<cite>
Documentation and alignment of practices
</cite>
</td></tr></table>
<h3>Proposals</h3>
<table border=0 bgcolor="#ffff99" width=100%><tr><td>
<ul>
<p><li>
Drop this section from workplan
</td></tr></table>
<p>
<hr>
<a name="tools">
<table width=100% bgcolor="#ffff99"><tr><td>
<h2>
Tools and Techniques
</h2>
</a>
<table>
<tr><th align="RIGHT"></th>
<td align="LEFT"> Proposed new section </td></tr>
<tr><th align="RIGHT">Priority:</th>
<td align="LEFT"> Not prioritized </td></tr>
<tr><th align="RIGHT">Open Actions:</th>
<td align="LEFT"> None </td></tr>
</table>
<ul>
<li> Maintain catalogue of useful tools and techniques
</ul>
</td></tr></table>
<hr>
</td></tr></table>
</BLOCKQUOTE>
</BODY>
</html>