FC: Business group opposes creation of .union top-level domain

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

One structural problem with this proposal -- and I'm not taking a
position on what other merits it may or may not have -- is that it
puts ICANN and/or the U.S. Commerce Department in the position of
deciding who can or can't register sites in a new top-level
domain. (Only "legitimate" unions are supposed to be allowed to do
so.) As a general rule, it seems to make sense not to have this kind
of veto power and day-to-day oversight by the Internet "authorities."

Background:
http://www.politechbot.com/p-01055.html
http://www.politechbot.com/p-01058.html

Excerpt from conclusion:
http://www.lpa.org/lpapublic/downloads/00-173_LPA_ICANN_Comments.pdf
LPA believes that the creation of .union TLD is unnecessary and will
create more confusion and conflict than access to useful
information. A .union TLD is likely to cause infighting among unions,
require the chartering entity to keep a vigilant watch on how domain
names are used, and require regular dispute resolution
proceedings. Above all, the prospect for employee confusion merits
that the proposal be dropped at this stage of Internet
expansion. Finally, to ensure a full airing of the views of interested
parties, LPA recommends that ICANN adopt a 60-day evaluation and
comment period following the deadline for filing proposals.

-Declan

*****************

From: James Love <love () cptech org>
Subject: [Random-bits] LPA opposition to .union TLD
To: random-bits () venice essential org
Cc: nc-tlds () venice essential org
Date: Sun, 9 Jul 2000 09:02:53 -0400 (EDT)
Delivered-To: random-bits () venice essential org


The Public Policy Association of Senior Human Resource Executives, a
corporate group that fight labor union organization efforts, has filed a
6 page letter with ICANN, opposing the creation of a .union top level
domain..   Jamie

http://www.lpa.org
http://www.lpa.org/lpapublic/downloads/00-173_LPA_ICANN_Comments.pdf


=============================================
James Love, Consumer Project on Technology    
P.O. Box 19367        | http://www.cptech.org 
Washington, DC 20036  | love () cptech org       
Voice 202/387-8030    | Fax 202/234-5176     
=============================================


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