IP: Fwd: dot US - some questions that need to be asked (was) Why/Who is getting a big gift from the USG and why?

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

> X-Sender: cook () pop3 netaxs com
> Date: Sat, 28 Jul 2001 17:42:18 -0400
> To: farber () cis upenn edu
> From: Gordon Cook <cook () cookreport com>
> Subject: dot US - some questions that need to be asked (was) Why/Who is
>  getting a big gift from the USG and why?
>
> Hi Dave,
>
> Regarding the give away of dot us.
>
> To understand what is going on folk need to talk with Karen Rose at the 
> Department of Commerce. For approximately the past 2 years this very young 
> attorney has been making policy on dot us, ENUM and ICANN for the Clinton 
> administration and now the Bush administration. Karen was installed in her 
> position at NTIA by Beckwith Burr.  Becky has been back at Wilmer Cutler 
> for, I believe, at least a year. Karen has been left at NTIA in the mean 
> time and as far as i can tell has made critical decisions in the arcane 
> areas of dot US, ENUM, and ICANN without any real supervision except for 
> the assiduous attention of those with interests in the areas she 
> supervises.  Given the change in administrations (and especially given the 
> Bush administration's apparent lack of interest in the Internet), Karen 
> has had amazing autonomy which, it seems to me as a long time observer of 
> these issues, she uses on behalf of her constituents: Verisign, Neustar, 
> ICANN and others. To most people her areas of authority are exceedingly 
> obscure. (Never the less in January 2000 she represented the US government 
> in Geneva at an ITU meeting designed to work out strategy between the USG, 
> ITU and IETF on ENUM.) The disposition of dot US, ICANN, and ENUM will 
> involve a lot of money and power.  I would hope that the press will 
> quickly start to ask the right questions.  I believe that there is enough 
> time left to make a difference.
>
> As far as dot US is concerned to anyone in the DNS industry it looks like 
> a HUGE cash cow..... What is going on here really needs close scrutiny 
> that it hasn't been getting.  I have never been a fan of your  phrase 
> 'adult supervision' - however I must admit that with Karen it is needed.
>
>
> > Good question, why is the US Govern giving away a valuable piece of 
> > property Dave
> >
> > > Date: Sat, 28 Jul 2001 10:29:12 -0400
> > > From: David Austin <daustin () disciples com>
> > > To: farber () cis upenn edu
> > >
> > >
> > > Dave
> > > why dont they consider an auction to qualified bidders?? perhaps you 
> > > could call some of
> > > your friends in DC
> > > dave austin
> --
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