From: David Keegel 
Sent: Tuesday, 19 June 2007 10:21 AM
To: jo.lim@auda.org.au
Subject: Policy Panel Consultation

Jo,

I suggest that the panel recommend to auDA:

(*) That the 2LD "otc.au" be removed or phased out in 2007
    (unless Telstra can show auDA why it should not be).

(*) That the 2LD "telememo.au" be discussed between auDA and
    Telstra, to determine whether it needs to continue as a 2LD,
    or whether it can be phased out or relocated. 

(*) That the 2LD "info.au" should be re-activated, once 
    suitable policies & plans for info.au have been developed.

(*) That .au should not be opened up to direct 2LD registrations
    for individual registrants.

Adding a process to delete domain names for illegal or malicious 
use (assuming that malicious use is clearly defined, so registrants 
know what is not permitted) does sound like a good idea to me.

Reserving the deleted domain for a period of time (like a few 
months) after deletion should also be considered.

I do not think the current rules are too restrictive.
If we could find a way to make the "close and substantial connection"
part easier to test objectively, that would be good.

I don't think much else needs to be changed in .au policy.

Regarding "sale" of .au domain names, auDA could conduct a review of 
registrar web sites to see whether registrar web sites make clear 
that domain names are licensed for use in two year periods, rather 
than sold to the registrant as property to be owned.

I suggest that if the panel is inclined to recommend any major changes 
(other than the recommendation already proposed, deleting domains for 
illegal/malicious use), then there should be a further round of public 
consultation after that proposed recommendation, to allow the public 
to comment on it in light of the Panel's view in favour of it.

To me one of the main purposes of the public consultation periods is 
to allow people an opportunity to react and/or object to what auDA 
(through a panel) proposes to do.

Please note that in Robert Elz's time, org.au was not specifically 
for charities, but essentially for "Australian organisations which 
don't fit anywhere else in the .au DNS hierarchy".

___________________________________________________________________________
 David Keegel 
 Cybersource P/L: Linux/Unix Systems Administration Consulting/Contracting