RFC1591:Obligations for ccTLD Managers

Keith Davidson

Executive Director - InternetNZ

RFC1591

• Section 2:

“The country code domains (for example, FR, NL, KR, US) are each organized by an administrator for that country. These administrators may further delegate the management of portions of the naming tree. These administrators are performing a public service on behalf of the Internet community.”

RFC1591

• Section 3:

“The major concern in selecting a designated manager for a domain is that it be able to carry out the necessary responsibilities, and have the ability to do a equitable, just, honest, and competent job”

“These designated authorities are trustees for the delegated domain, and have a duty to serve the community.”

Serving the local Internet Community

• Is RFC1591 only about technical standards?

• Or does it try to assert public policy principles?

• How far should a ccTLD manager go to abide by the principles of this RFC?

InternetNZ

• Is a not-for-profit, open membership society

• Operates the .nz register through a wholly owned subsidiary NZRS.

• Operates the policy development and enforcement operation through wholly owned subsidiary DNCL

• Has the vision of “an open and uncapturable Internet” and a mission of “promoting and protecting the Internet”

InternetNZ Structure

The .nz Domain Name Space

InternetNZ

DNC

AuthorisedRegistrars

NZRS

Service Level AgreementAuthorisation Agreement

Registrants

Connection Agreement

Registrant Agreement

Operating Agreement

Domain Name Commission

Management of .nz

Includes setting policy for .nz

Policies all online at www.dnc.org.nz/policies

Includes a Policy Development Process - http://dnc.org.nz/content/pdp.html

PDP states that public input into policy but also allows an override in case of security

Setting .nz Policy

Discussion document published and comment sought

Standard list of organisations consulted plus additional based on nature of consultation

All submissions published

True consultation in that position can change based on comments submitted

For consultation on introducing IDNs into .nz, documents in Māori and English and submissions accepted in both languages

InternetNZ

• Takes around 30% of domain name fees to fund broader activities which allows participation in a wide range of issues relating to Internet advocacy and policy, in the following broad categories:

1. Legal and Regulatory issues2. Technical Leadership3. Social Impact and Outreach4. International Participation5. Sponsorships

1. Legal & Regulatory Issues

• Broadband infrastructure• Telecommunications regulation• Other cyberlaw related regulation

(especially Copyright currently)• Self regulation and codes of practice• Parliamentary Internet Caucus• Internet patents watch• Legal jurisdiction issues• Digital Communities

2. Technical Leadership

• IPv6 Steering Group• Open source release of SRS software• ENUM• Peering• IP Interconnection• NZCERT establishment• Certification Authority• DNSSec / IP Sec etc through NZRS & DNCL

3. Social Impact & Outreach

• Technical scholarships• Technical Best Practice Programme• Internet’s role in productivity & growth• “Connecting the Clouds” Book – history of

the Internet in NZ• Secretariat functions for related sibling

organisations e.g. ISPANZ, NZNOG, ICT*• Sponsorship of many programmes

4. International Participation

• Hosting international meetings in NZ— e.g. 2 x APTLD meetings, ICANN 2006,

APNIC 2008, APAN 2008, linux.conf.au 2010

• Participation in international forums— e.g. ccNSO and At Large at ICANN,

APTLD (represented on Board and as Secretariat), IGF, PICISOC, PACNOG, APNIC

• Pacific Internet Partnership with UNESCO and ISOC.

• Travel sponsorships for NZ techies to IETF, APRICOT, IAB etc.

5. Sponsorships

• Victoria University Cyberlaw Fellow• Victoria University Honeypot • Internet Safety Group - Netsafe• World Internet Project – AUT• NZNOG • NZ Open Source Awards• Webstock• E-waste day & other 2020 Trust projects

Methodology

• We consult broadly with the local Internet community

• We seek bottom-up, consensus based decision making in establishing our broad policy and advocacy positions

• We establish our budget and business plan in consultation with our membership

Summary

• InternetNZ spends around US$1,500,000 annually on activities that are not strictly related to the operation of the .nz ccTLD.

• It is clear that ccTLD Managers generally seek Best Practice for their ccTLD.

• ccTLD Managers should also consider the broadest possible definition of the requirements to serve the local Internet community under RFC1591

• Is InternetNZ doing enough in this regard?

Thank You

— Keith Davidson (Executive Director) keith@internetnz.net.nz