[strategic-plan-comments] Comments on strategic plan

[Karl Auerbach <karl@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

There is nothing in this plan that deals with ICANN's primary mision: the 
technical stability of the internet's domain name and IP addressing 
systems.

To be more specific, there is nothing in this plan that indicates that 
ICANN will have any role or duty whatsoever regarding the ability of the 
upper layers of the domain name system (DNS) to operate reliabily, 
efficiently, promptly, and accurately.

There is nothing in this plan that deals with the proper preparation of 
the root zone file and its dissemination to root servers.

There is nothing in this plan that deals with responsible operation of the 
root servers in normal times or in times of stress.

There is nothing in this plan that deals with sensible and balanced 
allocation of IP addresses.

Instead this plan is completely about business and economic regulation 
and, by implication, about the prohibition of innovation that is not in 
accord with ICANN's business and economic rules.

That is not only *not* a narrow mission but it is also a completely 
inappropriate mission for ICANN.  The mission that ICANN describes for 
itself is that of a national legislature or heavy regulatory agency.

The community of internet users require from ICANN a guarantee that the 
internet's core infrastructures including the upper tiers of DNS and IP 
address allocation operate reliably.

The internet community does not require a body that imposes economic, 
business, and social policy on the internet.

Yet it is that former requirement that this plan ignores and it is that 
latter non-requirement that this plan proposes.

                --karl--
                Karl Auerbach
                Santa Cruz, California, USA
                Former elected ICANN Director for North America