Re: [wg-c] CONSENSUS CALL -- selecting the gTLDs in the initial rollout

["Milton Mueller" <mueller@syr.edu>]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Kent Crispin" <kent@songbird.com>

> It would be perfectly
> reasonable for some group headed by, for example, Jamie Love, to propose
> a TLD, and contract with an already established registry (say Nominet,
> or maybe even NSI) to operate the registry for them.  This proposal
> precludes such a possibility.

No, it doesn't. If Jamie Love contracted with Nominet, e.g., then that would
be part of a registry proposal. The fact that Love might be using an
existing registry is certainly something that should be taken into account
in making decisions. Therefore, the proposal MUST come from a registry
capable of operating, and not simply be a floating idea for a TLD string.

> Of course, one could get out of this difficulty by simply saying that
> anyone who proposes a TLD is a registry, by definition -- that would be
> easy to live with.

One must do more than "propose" a TLD string. One must be willing to operate
the registry or take responsibility for contracting with an operator, define
registration criteria, etc. But anyone who does that -- as J. Love's CPT is
proposing to do -- is in fact proposing to operate a registry.

If you think the absence of a definition is a problem, then propose one.