I believe that ICANN should
manage TLDs one step further by not letting anyone register a single word domain,
under anycircumstances (e.g., business.web, movies.web, croissants.web, tv.web, etc).
Instead, ICANN should keep all the one word domains to itself and manage them so
that anyone wanting to access such a TLD will so so under a second TLD (e.g., groceryshop.busines.web;
kidsclassic.movies.web; jellybelly.croissants.web). Notice that under the "no-to-one-word
model" no person can register a TDLs with a single word (e.g., these variations shall
not be allowed: business.business.web; french.croissant.web; kids.movies.web; prime.tv.web).
At some point people will say that self-similar names will necessarily have to approach
a zero-sum game; true, but at least the level at which the zero-sum will occur will
have allowed many -- perhaps millions -- to access the generic TLD (e.g., business.web;
tv.web, etc.), rather than just a few lucky ones under the first-come first-served
approach. The firs-come first-served approach seems monopolistic, unfair to
all but one, and inefficient.In managing these TLDs, ICANN could itself act as
the referee or delegate authority to interested and able non-profits, neutral, reputable
organizations to administer the business.web; tv.web; croissant.web, etc.web.
Or, ICANN may allow commercial domain registrars to offer these domains, as they
do now. Should anyone want to register a single-word domain (e.g., business.web),
he/she will be prompted with "try a [desired_name].business.web].
In marketing
the new TLD (e.g., .web) to the general public, the domain can be viewed as a "Yellow
Pages" directory. The broad categories in a yellow pages book, regardless of
who produces it, remain the same globally (e.g., attorneys are always found under
the "Law", "Attorneys", or "Lawyers" category; in Spanish, "Abogados" are always
found under "Abogados", "Notarios", "Servicios Legales" category). My point
is that the new TLD should be viewed as a resource list of individual, businesses
and organizations to guide the consumers/users to access a central place and be able
to find everything in the world (e.g., a world Yellow Pages resource).
Following
this "Yellow Pages" analogy (which I'll call "the book" hereunder). ICAN could:
a) manage the "book" (i.e., all subdomains under eahc category); b) allow a non-profit
/ or for-profit to service a category; c) allow a non-profit/for-profit to manage
the whole "book"; d) both ICANN and other organizations manage the "book" in part;
and/or each industry self-manages its category via a "neutral" body (iether at ICANN
or otherwise).
As with Yellow Pages, those using a domain name, shall pay a nominal
price to be listed for a given period of time (much like domain registrations now).
In addition, internet browsers could be programmed to seek TLDs according to an user's
preferences (e.g., look for local businesses first, look for State/Country businesses
second, look for global businesses third, etc. -- or -- avoid businesses in XYZ category,XYZ
region, or with XYZ characteristics).
In a nutshell, the Yellow Pages approach
to a new TLD will take comsumers/users from the familiar to finding new and coordinated
uses of the internet. The new TLD (e.g., .web) can be marketed to the masses as an
"user friendly, global directory". More businesses and organizations will have access
to their desired domains. The new TLD if programmed to do so, will have the ability
to be locally or globally specific, neither or both (the conumer/en-user decides)
thus increasing a level of cosumemer comfort, a level of cosumer control at the local
level, and a level of dealing with trusted local/global businesses/orgnizations by
choice. Not only will this level the playing field for businesses and organizations,
specially small business, but will also have a broad-base of support by local governments
in that communities will be able to support the Internet for local economic development
in that a local/global choice approach by consumers will allow local/global industries
to grow as driven by public choice. The managed and coordianted release of
a new TLD is the right and fair thing to do. In taking this active, yet necessary
role, ICANN will maintain its leadership and oversight of the TLD processes in a
coordinated, efficient and effective manner. A manged and coordianted release
of the new TLD (i.e., no more than one new TLD shall be released in this experimental
phase) will bring a better quality of life, not just for a few lucky one, but to
a greater universe of users/businesses/organizations. Enough with "cybersquatters",
please seriously consider the "managed TLD" approach!
Should you have any questions
of comments, I'll be happy to provide additional information on this subject.
Very
Truly Yours,
Nestor Requeno
Los Angeles, California, USA