I noticed that in the opposition comments quoted in the evaluations, that the fact
that .BIZ already exists as a commercial operation in the ORSC rootzone was not mentioned
in all of them.Since it is obvious that it must be emphasized as it applies to
ALL .BIZ applicants, let me state it here.
.BIZ was created in 1995 and has been
included in the ORSC rootzone. The creation date of the TLD is a TXT record in that
rootzone. The company which currently controls it is Atlantic Root Network,
Inc. (ARNI). Registrations are consistent and the registration system
is web based an automated. Currently registrar operations are contracted to
PacificRoot. Registry information is cuarrently located at biztld.net.
Why, then,
would ICANN wish to choose an applicant for a TLD which has been in operation since
1995? Further, why would anyone apply to ICANN for an existing business or
TLD?
Why, also, would applicants choose to ignore requests for answers to this
question?
ARNI did not apply to ICANN. It does not have to apply to
ICANN in order to exist. ARNI operates a TLD - several, actually, including
.ONLINE, .ETC, .NGO, and .NPO. .BIZ is the only one under consideration here,
so we have not argued for the others. However, it is obvious that there are registrants
in each of the TLDs and that operations have not ceased just because someone has
decided to attempt to take it over now or in the future.
The others under consideration
which are collision considerations are .WEB (if other than IOD), and .home.
The acceptance of applications for existing TLDs not managed by the applicants is
very troubling and can set a dangerous precedent for the future of the internet.
The simple fact that ICANN is ignoring the existence of operating commercial enterprises,
shows that it intends to use its perceived power to crush them, rather than recognize
them. This raises the spectre of a contentious time ahead, since there are
domain name holders who should have a reasonable expectency of being able to retain
their names and have them resolve as they do now.
We must also keep in mind that
the rootzone also includes the legacy root (ICANN) so that all non-colliding TLDs
are available to everyone.
We strongly object to the possibility of colliding
TLDs being introduced into the legacy rootzone, since that rootzone is carried
by all of the other rootzones which are open to the public. The only TLDs which
should be listed are those which are, indeed "new," and/or are currently operating
TLDs with their current managers. IOD's .WEB is the only other TLD which has
competing applicants for the existing string, but which existing operator is also
an applicant. The operator for .home has not applied for this TLD in the legacy
root.
Cooperation amoung roots for the benefit of all net users is important.
It might be a good idea to begin now.