NRG Meeting - 8 August 2004
Teleconference
Present: Chris Disspain, Jo Lim, Cheryl Langdon-Orr, Natasha McGuire, Cheryl Hardy, Kerry Webb, Allan Lebusque, Lejla Vrazalic (University of Wollongong)
Apologies: QLD
Actions:
- JL to circulate draft minutes.
- JL to draft cover note from NRG to auDA board and circulate via mail list.
1. Preliminary Pilot Project Evaluation Report by ETHOS
LV presented the preliminary report prepared by ETHOS. LV stressed that the report is merely preliminary, however initial feedback from the test cases lead ETHOS to make the following comments at this stage:
- there has been a very positive response to model among communities and overseas academics
- more emphasis needs to be placed on community awareness-raising, eg. through use of state portals
- facilitation is highly desirable especially in the early stages of the application process
- applicant organisations need to have a broad skills base as well as broad community representation
- an incorporated association is the most appropriate legal entity; pre-existing entities may have problems meeting community representation requirements
- the domain name application that was trialled by the test cases was too lengthy and complex and needs to be refined
- there are a range of questions and potential problems in relation to web site content
- public education and promotion are key to the sustainability of the model.
The NRG thanked ETHOS for the preliminary report and noted that a further 6 reports will be provided over the next few months.
A majority of NRG members were concerned that the report includes matters that appear to fall outside the original scope and purpose of the pilot project, including:
- provision of community facilitation and support
- state portals and a national portal
- web site content
- restriction on geographic names in com.au and net.au.
NRG members agreed to provide a cover note to the auDA board detailing their concerns about the report. LV indicated that ETHOS would prepare a response to the cover note if necessary.
2. Pilot Project Update
NM advised that the test cases were pleased to hear the outcome of the application process and are currently waiting to hear what the next steps will be in relation to setting up their web sites.
3. auDA Public Consultation
auDA received approximately 90 public submissions about the restriction on Australian place names in com.au and net.au. The submissions will be considered by the auDA Board in August.
