Don't forget to vote!

[Whois-SearchWhois-Search is verified member.]

As you will know the Nominet election has been called (7 candidates and two places):

Andrew Bennett (me)
Earl of Erroll
Mark Healey
Steve Kennedy
Sebastien Lahtinen
Thomas Vollrath
Tom Wills-Sandford

http://www.nic.uk/governance/board/election/

You should have been sent a username/password to login to: http://www.votepopularis.com/nominet/

You can also see how many votes you have here (just updated):
http://www.nic.uk/digitalAssets/43311_AGMVotingRights.pdf

Of course i'd like you to vote for me - but please just make sure you do vote!

 

[robrob is verified member.]

How do you match your gtld support to the interests of .uk domainers - as this is what this forum is all about?

 

[Whois-SearchWhois-Search is verified member.]

How do you match your gtld support to the interests of .uk domainers - as this is what this forum is all about?

Thanks for your question Rob

In my opinion the wheels are already in motion in regards to Nominet supporting new gTLDs. I remember Phil Kingsland telling us at the Lords Cricket ground event (November 2009) that Nominet had been approached to run new gTLDs. You might even find the odd article online where Nominet is mentioned - like the bid for dotlondon:

The office of the mayor of London already provided the essential letter of nonobjection. The British register Nominet was selected to be the technical supplier of the project (technical register).

Source: http://www.domainesinfo.fr/actualite/2037/le-london-soutenu-par-une-entreprise-privee.php

See Lesley on Youtube as far back as 2008: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyxbGvfr2QE

Also...

You have to wonder why the digital economy act in relation to "internet registries" was written the way it was?

I'm not the first person to notice this - even just two days ago this article appeared online:

The Government has itself acknowledged that, as long as Nominet remains the only UK registry, the current system of self-regulation works. Sections 19-21 of the DEA now provide a mechanism to intervene should self-regulation prove ineffective after the liberalisation of the gTLD market

Source: http://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=eb85afa4-498d-44c6-9096-ab3acbfc215e

You also have to consider what is happening in the market place and at ICANN. The latest prediction I've seen is for 382 new gtlds - Nominet has to react to this: http://www.mindsandmachines.com/2010/06/reading-icanns-gtld-budget-good-news-for-applicants/

ICANN just released the fourth version of its Applicant Guidebook this week - but even then things are not yet decided - see Kieren's post this week: http://kierenmccarthy.com/2010/06/03/icanns-big-night-out-morning-after-plan/

Therefore....

If elected as a non-executive director I doubt for one minute I'm going to have the power to stop the wheels from turning? What I can do is campaign for Nominet to ONLY run those new gtlds that are for geographical regions within the current British Isles.

Wales have a strong bid for example with http://www.dotcym.org - I support this and would like to see Nominet provide the backend.

I have even seen .ker for Cornwall on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=51986534687 but i'm not sure how successful that one would be!

Hey even Tothy, Owen and Ratboy could have their own: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=41651867093

What I don't want to see is for Nominet to be turned into the next Afilias, Versign or Centralnic and start running things for outside the UK. I would like Nominet members to have access to the new gtlds for the UK, but at the same time lets not forget .uk with its 8 million registrants and the Nominet Trust currently funding UK based projects.

 

[robrob is verified member.]

I agree it is happening, however I am unsure if Nominet should be empire building along those lines.

Limiting to things 'inside the UK' is an interesting angle, but then would you say .EU is fair game?

I am not saying that one non-exec has the power to change the world, but I do feel its important to point out to members of this board which exactly these things mean, in terms of their .uk holdings & as (hopefully) engaged Nominet members.

In terms of membership, smaller members ought not be squashed nor cease to exist. The cottage industry found on Acorn, smaller ISPs and even my own route into Nominet involvement would be closed off if the focus is changed totally.

I strongly believe Nominet ought to be there for the good of the UK / .uk , and not turn into a slave of product provision for the 123-reg of this world with daily sunrises and 'must have' .telmobixxx extensions.

I think this view is shared by yourself going by your nom-steer posts, but I do recognise pushing gTLDs may be in the interests of a sector of nominet members with the biggest votes

(ps. for the record I have spoken at length to andrew about this point & numerous others on the phone )