[soac-newgtldapsup-wg] registry back up/ financial instrument

[Richard Tindal <richardtindal@xxxxxx>]

To elaborate on the 'financial instrument' issue we discussed towards the end 
of the call.

Having a failover plan for another (a back-up) operator doesn't satisfy the 
rationale for the 'financial continuity instrument'  ---   as there is no way 
of knowing whether or not this
back-up operator will remain in business.     Just as the TLD registry could 
fail,  so could the back-up operator.

Hence the DAG asks for the  financial continuity instrument which is 
essentially enough cash to provide support for existing second level domain 
holders until either (a) someone new takes over the failed registry,  or    (b) 
 second level registrants in the failed TLD can 'migrate' to another TLD

So,  I think the main question is --   "How long would it reasonably take for 
registrants in the failed TLD to rebrand themselves in a new TLD?"

My opinion is that 12 to 18 months is adequate.

Richard