-----Original Message-----
From: Ronda Hauben <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
<snip>
>
>The real problem that the DNS wars show is that the U.S.
>government doesn't seem to be supporting the needed scientific
>research about how to provide for the scaling of the Internet.
>
Ronda,
In my opinion, you raise some very good points, but I am not sure
I agree with your conclusions. Firstly, you appear to be interested
in "more" government and you start by trying to show that the
government is not involved, then show things are not good, and
then conclude more government is needed to make things better.
In my opinion, we need LESS government. Two years ago, the DNS
debates were starting to make progress. People in the private sector
(commercial and non-commercial) had educated themselves, tested
new techniques and were starting to work together to deploy alternatives.
This process was derailed by a combination of NSI, the U.S. Government,
and all sorts of "do gooders" who claimed to have solutions. As we now
see, NSI and ARIN have laughed all the way to the bank, all the while
claiming to be trying to open up the playing field to competition.
It is unfortunate that people were deceived. They were told that they
should set their agendas aside and place their trust in the U.S. Government
and in particular the Department of Commerce. Instead of proceeding
with the private sector solutions which would now likely have created more
diversity and harmony, people stopped in their tracks and started to
respond to the DOC's directives. At the time, I pointed out to people that
it was possible that the DOC would not deliver. I pointed out that it was
possible that the U.S. Government was being manipulated. People did
not listen. They assumed that the U.S. Government is too large to be
manipulated. They assumed that justice would be swift and fair. Nothing
close to that occurred.
Instead, the summer of 1997 resulted in a lot good work being scattered
to the winds. NSI helped to scatter the players. The players foolishly
thought that NSI would help them and that the U.S. Government would
stand by and enjoy the tax benefits of the developing commerce. This did
not happen. Instead, one public comment period was extended to another,
NSI was able to move far from the situation and allow the U.S. Government
to grind everything to a halt. By the end of 1997 people were growing weary
that the U.S. Government would never produce anything. Finally, in 1998
they were more or less forced to publish the Green Paper. There was a
very brief period of hope. Those who had set their plans aside were told
that the end was near, more diversity would be allowed, more jobs would
be created, etc. etc. etc.
Then, the traditional Internet community stepped in. Based on pressure
applied via Jon Postel, the Green Paper was reversed almost 180 degrees
and the infamous White Paper appeared. Once again, NSI was able to
sit on the side-lines and lauch all the way to the bank. By the Summer of
1998, people who had given the process a chance, could see that they
had been deceived. They had already wasted a year, after being derailed
in 1997. In 1997, they had already invested TWO years just getting to a
point
where progress was being made. This meant that some people had three
years invested. During that time NSI and ARIN had laughed all the way to
the bank.
The recent history with ICANN, while interesting, in my opinion is largely
irrelevant. Since the late summer or fall of 1998, some people (like me)
have picked up where we left off in 1997. In my opinion, we are oce again
making progress, but this time we are wiser. Will NSI be able to fool us
again ? I doubt it. Will NSI be able to buy up 100% of the people ? I doubt
that. Will some new systems emerge that are way beyond what NSI or the
U.S. Government can imagine ?.....I think so...
...I think I will return to working on those...good luck to you all...
Jim Fleming
Unir Corporation
vPC + C+@ + IPv8 + 2,048 TLDs...this network solution is simple...
