On Jul 25, 2015, at 9:06 PM, Andrew Sullivan <[email protected]> wrote:
> But others of these proposals, such as bit., mark
> out a name space and associated protocol that competes with the DNS.
> It is a fully parallel name resolution universe, applicable to
> absolutely any network application.  My point was that the second
> class of these basically puts us in the position of approving a
> special-use registration that is effectively an attack on someone
> else's business model (ICANN's and that of the various registries and
> registrars).

The IETF shouldn’t be in the business of suppressing innovation or defending 
business models.   We all know that IETF participants sometimes do to this, but 
normally they pretend that they are doing so for technical reasons, and they do 
that because our culture tries to discourage such behavior, since it tends to 
work against the goal of technical excellence.

The reason I think it was inappropriate is not that I think the DNS needs to be 
replaced.   It does seem to be working, and I’m pretty happy with it 
personally, since it pays my bills.   But the IETF should not be trying to 
stifle people who think it is not working and want to try something different.  
 I suspect they will fail, but that’s not a reason for us, as a standards body, 
to stand in the way of them trying.   Even if they fail, we can learn from 
their failure, and that is something we should encourage.

I get “bad actor” from your characterization of such attempts as “attacks,” 
which is a term that clearly implies malfeasance.   The non-pejorative way to 
say the same thing is “competes with."

As to how this relates to you being IAB chair, the IAB chair is very 
influential in this particular discussion space.   You just replaced Russ, who 
was very active in working on internet governance issues; It’s my understanding 
that you have stepped into his shoes, and while I don’t agree with you on this 
particular point, I greatly appreciate your willingness to do so.

I don’t mean to suggest that you are abusing your authority.   Actually I 
encourage you to use your authority—that’s why it was given to you.   I think 
it’s fine for you to speak about this with your IAB chair hat on, and indeed I 
don’t think you can speak without your IAB chair hat about this topic.   The 
pretense that people in IETF leadership can somehow wear two hats is a bit 
thin: realistically, we aren’t that good at compartmentalization, nor should we 
be expected to be or assumed to be.

However, I think that you should consider whether the chair of the IAB should 
be quite so vehement in opposing such competition, and quite so pejorative in 
characterizing it.

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