First, Version 7.3 of the Strategic Plan was published for public comment over the weekend. Drop everything and read it now because "The comment period will be open until 13 May 2005 at 23:59 UTC." Add: Heh. Looks like someone already complained. The quote above has been changed to read "comments on this latest version of the strategic plan will be most useful if submitted by 13 May 2005." That's likely because the Board has scheduled an as yet unannounced Board meeting for the following week. And still another add: Okay, now they're playing with us. They switched the language back to read: "The comment period will be open until 13 May 2005 at 23:59 UTC." In other words, whether the comment deadline is hard or soft depends on what time of day you load the page. Not funny.
Here's a good rule of thumb: Anytime you go beyond Version 3 of a public comment document, you have a serious disconnect between the public views and the views of the drafting team. After Version 3, it's time to try a different approach. The number 7.3 speaks for itself.Trivia Question: Whose famous thumb is that? (answer below)
Thomas Niles, speaking at the Board meeting in Mar del Plata about the Strategic Plan: "IF NOMINET CAN DO [A STRATEGIC PLAN] ON ONE PAGE, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO IT ON TWO OR THREE. AND LEAVE IT AT THAT." Then again, maybe not. The new version? 31 pages. Perhaps there's a disconnect between the Board and the staff.
Second Public Comment Opportunity: "Final task force report on Recommendations for improving notification and consent for the use of contact data in the Whois system" | For public comment 23 April 2005 to 12 May 2005.
Melbourne IT: "These are merely additional barriers to prevent a registrant registering a name, when a far better customer experience would be to offer the option to opt-out of the public display of Personal Data, rather than force the registrant to acknowledge that they have no choice but to have Personal Data available for public access."
My post to the ALAC: "Ironically, both the proposed policy and Melbourne IT's objection to it are grounded on what is 'good for the consumer/registrant.'" If you have thoughts on this, drop me a note.
Third Opportunity for Public Comment: "ccNSO Request for Issue Report Regarding Changes to Bylaws, Policy Development Process, and Scope of ccNSO" | Comment period will open on 5th May 2005 and close on 15th May 2005.
Meanwhile, Iron Mountain Inc., the company used by many registries and registrars to escrow data has decided to compete with those same customers in the domain name registration business. PR Release: "Iron Mountain Gains ICANN Accreditation." If I'm a registrar, I'm finding a new data escrow company.
Trivia Answer linked here.
And, last but not least, Tommy Lasorda has a blog: "Fans who run on to the field are a disgrace to the game of baseball!"
