[alac-forum] Commentary on the Validity of a ccTLD in the Event a County is Dissolved
I wanted to outline a policy commentary on the continued validity of a
country-code Top-Level Domain ("ccTLD") in the event that a country is
dissolved or changes its name.
Commentary on the Validity of a ccTLD in the Event a County is Dissolved or
Changes its Name
by Doug Mehus
Published: January 14th, 2003
Introduction and Background
---------------------------
>From time to time, countries either dissolve themselves, amalgamate with other
>jurisdictions or countries, or simply change their name. Because the Internet
>Assigned Numbers Authority relies on the International Organization for
>Standardization to assign two-letter country codes to each country, a country
>code could change the next time the ISO recycles or removes one that is no
>longer in use. Therefore, as was discussed in a recent message board posting
>(http://www.icannwatch.org/comments.pl?sid=1522&cid=12843), the ISO removed
>the "zr" country-code following Zaire's change of name to Democratic Republic
>of the Congo. IANA soon followed suit by removing the zrTLD from the domain
>name system root.
Recommendations
---------------
In the event a country changes its name, dissolves, or otherwise fails to
exist, I believe its database of registered domain names should be transferred
to the IANA from the currently delegated administrator ("registry
administrator"), in which case IANA would manage the root servers of the ccTLD
and allow existing domain name owners to modify their domain names (contact
information, nameservers, etc.) through an IANA web-based interface. However,
no new registrations should be accepted.
As for the length IANA should continue managing a ccTLD remains to be seen, but
it would seem reasonable to say at least two years and not more than three.
That gives domain name owners more than adequate time to register a new domain
name in another TLD space, set up Web hosting for it, transfer their site(s)
over, forward users to it from the former address, and have their links in
various search engine databases all re-indexed. After the two or three years,
IANA would serve domain name owners a final 90-day notice, a 60-day notice, and
a 30-day notice, and then remove the ccTLD from the root. It is widely
perceived that this would ensure the least amount of negative reaction and
public outrage, if any at all.
But What About Stability?
-------------------------
Some have questioned that by taking an action such as removing a ccTLD from the
domain name system root harms the stability of the Internet. This appears to be
a case of fear, uncertainty, and doubt ("FUD"). Because the ccTLD of the former
country would continue to operate for up to three years under IANA management,
there would be ample time for people to update their address books, contact
friends and colleagues, and Web sites to a new Web presence.
In addition, by keeping a ccTLD of a former country in existence perpetually,
stability of the Internet is actually harmed by a possible conflict in the
event that the ISO decides to recycle or reuse that country-code for a new
country. If that were to happen, IANA would be at a crossroads: continue using
the country-code for the former, non-existent country or assign it to the newly
created country with the same two-letter code with no advance warning?
Conclusion
----------
It is my belief that ICANN, operating as IANA, should establish a clear and
authoritative policy white paper on what to do with a ccTLD of a former country
to preserve the stability of the Internet and to ensure only legitimate
countries maintain the benefit of having their own Top-Level Domain in
perpetuity.