At least two years ago, with trumpet flourishes and drum
rolls, the gTLD Memorandum of Understanding was announced and a list of new top-level
names was published. Originally, it was announced that the new names would be in
use by the end of 1998, then by July 1999, then...nothing.The ICANN Yokohama Topic
paper that outlines the current proposal does not even mention the gTLD MOU--not
even once in the background section! But only a year or so ago, seveal ISPs were
taking reservations for the new names. Some were even charging a fee for adding names
to their local application waiting list. There was supposed to be a procedure already
approved to make the assignment of the new names fair and random so that all players
would have a fair chance to register a desired name.
Now, it looks like all of
that has been trashed. Worse, it's like ancient Egypt and a disgraced Pharoah: It
appears that ICANN has erased the word MOU from all its public monuments and now
considers it to be a non-word for something that they seem to want everyone to believe
never existed.
Why? What is the advantage and for whom? There appeared to be a
concensus for adopting .web, .store, .arts, .nom, etc.
I work in a government agency
and I'm familiar (perhaps even comfortable) with a rather high level of bureaucracy,
redtape, and delays. But this situation boggles even my jaded, technocrat mind.
Disgusted
and disgruntled
BEvans