***********If you do not see the magnitude of this decision, and the choice
of Afilias as the beginning of the end of an era in the Internet, then there is nothing
I can say that will make sense to you.********** What is occurring right now with
Afilias has been predicted since the beginning of ICANN's formation. All of it: The
abuse of absolute power by ICANN, the use of ICANN by wealthly groups to control
the Internet, etc.
Unless ICANN changes the entire tone and direction of this TLD
selection process, I simply don't see how educated human beings could want them to
continue to operate. If Afilias is chosen for ANY TLD, we, the people, all people,
any company, every company, lose any chance of EVER running a registry. That may
not be your goal, and it's certainly not mine, (to run a registry), but the possibility
of it is gone forever, nonetheless. And we'll lose other rights as well. Don't like
the customer service? Oh well, no other choice. Don't like the fee imposed to change
DNS info? Oh well, no other choice. We will lose many, many rights - and the ability
to *choose*. The power stays with the powerful, once and forever.
Make no mistake
about it - this decision is a dividing line in Internet history, and choosing Afilias
is the wrong fork in the road.
"Competition" at the registry level will never
happen.
--M Lynn