Here are my reasons listed
numerically:
1. Is dot .mail really a sTLD (Sponsored
TLD)? I don't think so and therefore should not even be considered on this
premise alone. Since almost anyone with $2K and who has had a
stable URL address for at least 6 months can apply for the domain. I
don't see this "group" as a precisely defined community described
below. No, when I think of a Sponsored TLD, I think of dot travel,
dot union, etc. I Here is ICANN's definition
A. Definition of Sponsored TLD Community
The proposed sTLD must address the needs and interests of a clearly
defined community (the Sponsored TLD Community), which can benefit from the
establishment of a TLD operating in a policy formulation environment in which
the community would participate.
Applicants must demonstrate that the Sponsored TLD Community
is:
- Precisely defined, so it can readily be determined which persons
or entities make up that community; and
- Comprised of persons that have needs and interests in common but
which are differentiated from those of the general global Internet
community.
2. The cost of the domain: $2K. Although I've read on
other venues the prices for a dot email domain would drop in time for the
"average joe". As a student of logic I don't see this happening (in
my humble opinion). The reason for the high cost in the first place is to
make it prohibitive for spammers to buy unlimited dot Mail URL
addresses. Wouldn't dropping the price then make it "easier" for spammers
to buy many more addresses. Duh!!. Therefore, I don't see the price
dropping from $2K, which would hurt small business.
3. If ICANN does approve dot mail, the news
outlet's would bill this as "the cure" to prevent spam. If I am correct
dot mail would only "slow" the rate of spam, which is a good thing, just not the
right solution. The problem I have is that when the first time someone
gets a "V I A G R A" email from a dot .mail address (which would almost
certainly occur) would cause "trust" issues. Here is another
scenario: What happens the first time a "spammer" does get through a
spam letter that fools someone into giving them money...especially if they
opening the email "knowing" dot mail is good based on the $2K price/vetting
process. How will ICANN cover themselves? Afterall they would be
giving their "seal" on the name if approved. Same thing with the
registrar? Will the cost of insurance be prohibitive... Or is there
not a problem?? It's possible the registrar could make the "spammers"
responsible, but it would probably be difficult finding "spammer x" to sue them
for damages.
My point: The danger is if we did reach
critical mass with dot mail and "spammers" find a way to get through the
"vetting" process enmasse, how would you recover?? If you use a software
solution which I recommend to curb spam, you'd simply key on certain addresses,
etc to stop the spam. With dot mail, your stuck with it. URL
addresses are difficult to change, especially if ISP's tweak their email
servers in large groups. Again, this is why I think this idea is
wrong.
I do think the people submitting this application
deserve their chance to be heard, don't get me wrong, but certainly all the
issues I've brought up so far should be some cause for
concern.
Thank you for listening,
Gregory W. Krajewski
Anywhere.biz