RE: [council] CENTR RFC 1 - Best Practice Guidelines for ccTLD Managers

["Erica Roberts" <erica.roberts@melbourneit.com.au>]

Thank you Dennis - I think this is a very valuable contribution to the
development of a framework for the future operation of ccTLDs. I note that
this has been developed by CENTR but it would be useful to hear your views
on the scope and functionality of the document.
I would also like to know something more of the consultation process to this
point - who has been consulted in its development, what level of support the
document has from interested stake holders, etc.  It would be of assistance
if you could provide an outline of the consultative process, results to date
and 'next steps'.

Having said that, I am conscious that this may be a matter which already has
been extensively discussed/covered by the Names Council prior to my joining
this list.  If  so, could you bring me up to date on it plse?

erica


-----Original Message-----
From: owner-council@dnso.org [mailto:owner-council@dnso.org]On Behalf Of
Dennis Jennings
Sent: Thursday, February 17, 2000 3:34 AM
To: DNSO Names Council
Cc: Fay Howard; Andrew McLaughlin
Subject: [council] CENTR RFC 1 - Best Practice Guidelines for ccTLD
Managers


Names Council Colleagues,

Please find below as text, and attached at an RTF file, the latest draft of
the
CENTR RFC 1 document on Best Practice Guidelines for ccTLD Managers.  This
is
being finalised by CENTR this week and is now open for comments.  It has
been
circulated to the ccTLD Constituency for comment and will be discussed at
the
ccTLD Constituency meeting in Cairo.

I would hope to be able to bring the document to the Names Council for
approval
and submission to ICANN in Cairo.

Many thanks
Dennis
----------
CENTR RFC 1:  Draft 1.0

Best Practice Guidelines for ccTLD Managers



This document is the first draft for comment of the CENTR Best Practice
Guidelines for ccTLD Managers.  Comments are invited - to
CENTR-RFC1-Comments@Centr.org.  It is intended that the document will be
finalised in March 2000.


Introduction

Whilst recognising that existing managers of ccTLD registries do not
necessarily
fully conform to best practice, most of the ccTLD Manager community is
committed
to work towards compliance.


Background

The Domain Name System structure contains a hierarchy of names.  The root,
or
highest level, of the system is unnamed.  Top Level Domains (TLDs) are
divided
into classes, ccTLDs and gTLDs, based on rules that have evolved over time.
ccTLDs - country code Top Level Domains - are associated with countries and
territories.  gTLDs are (with some exceptions) generic and global in nature.

To date, ccTLDs have been assigned to countries and territories using the
ISO-3166-1 list, on the basis that ISO has a procedure for determining which
entities should be and should not be on that list.  For more information
about
the ISO 3166 Maintenance Agency, please see the following web page:
http://www.din.de/gremien/nas/nabd/iso3166ma/.

Historically, the management of ccTLD Registries was delegated by IANA to
the
existing ccTLD Managers, under the guidelines published in RFC 1591 and
ICP-1.
A list of current TLD assignments and names of the ccTLD Managers can be
accessed at http://www.iana.org/cctld.html.

A ccTLD Manager's authority comes from serving the Local Internet Community
and
from the affirmation by the Local Internet Community of that authority.  The
Local Internet Community, including governmental and other authorities, has
a
responsibility to support and protect the ccTLD Registry, and to assist the
ccTLD Manager serve the that community.

 1. Objectives of this document

To set out areas to be addressed in creating Best Practice Guidelines for
ccTLD
Managers.


2. Definitions

ccTLD: A country code top level domain in the top level of the global domain
name system, assigned according to the two-letter codes in the ISO 3166-1
standard codes for the representation of names of countries or territories.

ccTLD Registry: The entity which records names as domain names in a register
of
domain names for the country-code top level domain name, according to
policies
and rules, and following procedures, established with the Local Internet
Community (see below).

ccTLD Manager: A company, organisation or individual managing a ccTLD
Registry.

Registrant: A company, organisation or individual for whom a name has been
registered as a domain name in the ccTLD domain name register.

ICANN: Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers.

IANA: Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (Incorporated into ICANN in 1999).

Local Internet Community: The Internet industry and users and the government
and
authorities of the state or territory with which the ccTLD is associated.
The
definition of the Local Internet Community may vary from one
country/territory
to another, and is essentially a matter for the community in the
country/territory.  The definition of the Local Internet Community must be
documented, available for public inspection, and transparent to the local
community.


3. Best Practice

3.1 Duty of ccTLD Manager

The primary duty of the ccTLD Manager is one of Public Service, and to
manage
and operate the ccTLD Registry in the interest of and in consultation with
the
Local Internet Community.

ccTLD Managers are entrusted with the management of the TLD Registry.
Concerns
about intellectual or other property rights in names registered as domain
names
or as part of domain names are outside the remit of the ccTLD Manager.

No intellectual or other property rights in the 2-character code accrue to a
ccTLD Manager as a result of the act of delegation of the responsibility for
a
ccTLD Registry.  ccTLD Managers may have rights to the intellectual and
other
property developed by them as a by-product of managing the ccTLD Registry,
subsequent to the delegation of such responsibility.

3.2 Registration of Domain Names

ccTLD Managers:
· must register domain names in an efficient and timely manner, following
policies rules and procedures that have been established and published in a
transparent manner in consultation with the Local Internet Community.
· must collect the necessary information to ensure that the Registrant can
be
authoritatively identified.
· should have a standard contract with Registrants.
· should recognise that some of the functions of the registry may be
considered
to be a monopoly and should not abuse its special position.

3.3 Registrant Policies

The ccTLD Manager must be equitable and fair to all eligible registrants
that
request domain names.  Policies defining which organisations, businesses,
individuals, etc. are eligible to register domain names under the
2-character
ccTLD must be defined by the ccTLD Manager in consultation with the Local
Internet Community.  Specifically, the registration of domain names should
be
based on objective criteria that are transparent and non-discriminatory.
Policies and procedures may vary from country to due to local customs,
cultural
values, local policies and objectives, law and regulations.  The definition
must
be documented, available for public inspection, and transparent to the Local
Internet Community.

3.4 Location

The ccTLD Manager, in consultation with and unless agreed otherwise with the
Local Internet Community, and consistent with the requirement to best serve
the
interests of the Local Internet Community, should be resident in the
territory
of the ccTLD and, if the ccTLD Manager is a corporation, the ccTLD Manager
should be incorporated there.

3.5 Technical Requirements

The ccTLD Manager supervises the process of registration of domain names in
the
registry of the ccTLD, and supervises the operation of the domain name
servers
and the maintenance of the appropriate zone files for the ccTLD.  There must
be
permanent (24-hours per day) Internet Protocol (IP) connectivity to the name
servers and the registry servers.  There should be published e-mail and web
address contacts, and these should be permanently accessible.

The ccTLD Manager must do a satisfactory job of supervising the operation of
the
DNS service for the TLD.  Duties such as the assignment of domain names,
delegation of sub-domains and operation of name servers must be done with
technical competence.  This includes keeping the IANA or other higher-level
domain manager advised of the status of the domain, responding to requests
in a
timely manner, and operating the database with accuracy, robustness, and
resilience.  (See RFC 1591 and ICP 1).

3.6 Changes to Information in the Register Database of IANA (other than a
change
of ccTLD Manager)

The ccTLD Manager must inform IANA, in a timely manner, of changes to the
information that is maintained in IANA's register database.  Notification of
changes must be authorised by the Contact Person as specified in the
register
database.  Changes to the Contact Person must be by an authorised member of
the
board or executive of the ccTLD Manager.  (Changes to the ccTLD Manager are
outside the scope of the Best Practices document).

3.7 Financial Basis of ccTLD Manager Operations

ccTLD Managers should operate on a cost effective, cost recovery, basis,
unless
otherwise explicitly agreed with the Local Internet Community.

3.8 Subcontracting of Operations

Unless otherwise agreed with the Local Internet Community, a ccTLD Manager
may
contract out any or all of the operation and administration of a ccTLD
Registry,
provided that the ccTLD Manager contractually obliges the sub-contractor to
comply with the requirements of this and any other documents setting down
best
practice for ccTLD Managers.

3.9 Data Security

ccTLD Managers must ensure that all Registry data is secured against damage
or
loss.

3.10 Domain Name Dispute Resolution

ccTLD Managers should define and publish their domain name dispute
resolution
policies and procedures, in consultation with the Local Internet Community.

Mechanisms should be established by the ccTLD Manager to handle fairly and
independently any such disputes arising between registrants, or other
parties,
and the ccTLD Manager.

Making judgements in relation to disputes arising between third parties and
domain name registrants are outside the remit of the ccTLD Manager.


4. Governing Law

ccTLD Managers will operate under the law of the country or territory where
they
are located.

The relationship between Registrants and the ccTLD Manager (whether by
explicit
contract or otherwise) must be governed by the law of the country or
territory
of the ccTLD.


5. Changes to this Best Practice Guidelines Document

When agreed by the CENTR members, this document may be updated or amended by
the
decision of a majority of the CENTR members.

When this document is finalised, CENTR will invite other organisations
representing the interests of ccTLD Managers to adopt it.  This document may
subsequently be updated or amended by a decision of the majority of the
ccTLD
Managers who are members of the organisations which have adopted these Best
Practice Guideline for ccTLD Managers.







Acknowledgements:

This document has been based on a variety of sources, including

· The draft document presented and discussed the CENTR General Assembly
meeting
in Malta in February 2000.
· The discussions at the special CENTR meeting on Best Practice for ccTLDs,
held
in Frankfurt, on Friday, 7 January 2000, and feedback from that meeting
· Fay Howard's document "Issues to be addressed in defining ccTLD Best
Practice"
prepared for the CENTR General Assembly meeting in Pisa in December 1999.
· Marcel Schneider's document "Proposal for Best Practice for ccTLD
registries
(Code of Conduct)" version 1.2 dated 21 October 1999.
· IANA's RFC 1591
· IANA's ICP-1
· The ICANN Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) document "Principles for
the
Delegation and Management of Country Code Top Level Domains", DRAFT - 1
November
1999 - Distributed at ICANN GAC Meeting, Los Angeles CA.