[discuss] the three orthogonal questions [was Thoughts welcome on proposed Netmundial submission]

Wed Mar 5 10:48:59 UTC 2014

In message 
<20140304115154.7754E21AB7 at inbound-queue-3.mail.thdo.gradwell.net>, at 
12:50:16 on Tue, 4 Mar 2014, Michel Gauthier <mg at telepresse.com> writes
>>>THE issue in play is that ICANN performs these functions under a 
>>>contract from the USG
>>
>>But only because ICANN won the contract (each time so far). It should 
>>not be taken for granted that they always will.
>
>But only because the US thinks they are ligitimate in granting this contract.
>
>There are therefore three totally orthogonal issues that therefore 
>cannot be settled by a common agreement because there is no common law 
>to protect it:
>
>1. for the US citizens only: why do you think this contract legitimate?
>
>2. for the non-US citizens who use the service organized by that 
>US/ICANN contract: why do you use it and not the equivalent by your 
>contract.
>
>3. for all those who use these services: what should the NTIA and ICANN 
>do in order to enhance the quality of this services?
>
>A 4th subsidiary question is, how each response is favored or not by 
>the completion of the Vint Cerf internet project that is obscured by 
>the "status-quo" mentality, and enlighten for common lay people by the 
>basic "virtual networks of the networks of networks" formulation of the 
>internetting purpose (actually denying Vint Cerf his most fundamental 
>contribution).

There's another question: Is it anti-competitive for the US to set the 
fee for performing the IANA function at zero-dollars?

This is a significant disincentive for new entrants, as is the rule that 
in order to qualify you have to demonstrate a successful track record in 
performing a similar function.

At that point, being based in the USA and having staff with USG security 
clearance almost gets lost in the noise.

If the rules were to change, and a suitably competent outsider was to 
take on the responsibility of the IANA function from outside the USA, 
who would pay?
-- 
Roland Perry