Registry Competition Review Panel
Terms of Reference
This document is the Terms of Reference for auDA's Registry Competition Review Panel, approved by the auDA Board on 15 June 2004.
Purpose
The purpose of the Panel is to:
- review auDA's competition model as it applies to the provision of .au 2LD registry services; and
- provide recommendations to the auDA Board about what changes (if any) should be made to the competition model.
Background
In June 2001 auDA's Competition Model Advisory Panel recommended a model for the introduction of competition in the Australian domain name industry. The model included the following key features in relation to the provision of 2LD registry services:
- auDA will adopt a competition model that allows for multiple registries; and
- provision of registry services under a licence agreement from auDA will be contestable, through a periodic open tender process to be administered by auDA.
(Refer to Section 2.3 of "Competition Model for the .au Domain Space, June 2001".)
In October 2001 auDA conducted a tender for the provision of 2LD registry services. AusRegistry Pty Ltd was awarded a four year licence to operate the five open 2LDs (asn.au, com.au, id.au, net.au, org.au). The licence term commenced on 1 July 2002 and expires on 30 June 2006.
Under the registry licence agreement, AusRegistry:
- charges a "wholesale" domain name fee to registrars (which includes the auDA Domain Name Fee, remitted to auDA on a monthly basis); and
- pays an annual licence fee to auDA, calculated on the number of domain names registered in each 2LD.
Activity and Outcome
1. The Panel will review auDA's competition model as it applies to the provision of .au 2LD registry services. The Panel will consider:
- what are the objectives of competition at the 2LD registry level;
- whether the multiple registries model should be retained, or whether there should be a single registry for all .au 2LDs;
- the process by which auDA should appoint the registry operator(s);
- the revenue model under which registry services should be provided; and
- how to accommodate the introduction of new 2LDs.
In conducting its review, it is expected that the Panel will take into account domain name industry developments in Australia and internationally since 1 July 2002.
The following matters DO NOT form part of the Panel's Terms of Reference:
- Review of the current registry technical specification. auDA will review the registry technical specification at a later date.
- Consideration of whether auDA itself should provide registry services. The auDA Board has confirmed its commitment to maintaining a clear separation of policy and operations.
2. The Panel will undertake two public consultations during the course of its work.
3. The Panel will report to the auDA Board with clear recommendations about what changes (if any) should be made to the competition model. The Panel may also recommend when auDA should consider implementing any changes, taking into account the fact that AusRegistry's licence agreement is not due to expire until 30 June 2006.
In the event that the Panel recommends that auDA appoint the registry operator(s) by way of tender, the Panel is not required to draft the tender documentation. Tender documentation and process would be a matter for the auDA Board to determine.
Timeline
An indicative timeline is as follows:
| Activity | Timing |
| Call for nominations | June |
|
1st meeting 1st public consultation |
August |
|
2nd meeting 2nd public consultation |
September |
|
3rd meeting Final report to auDA Board |
October |
The timeline is subject to change.
Members
The Panel will consist of up to 12 members other than the Chair. It is intended that the Panel will represent the key stakeholders in the Australian DNS, including industry, consumers, government and legal. Panel members will be appointed by the auDA Board on the basis of their individual skills, experience and knowledge of the domain name industry.
Membership of the Panel is on a voluntary basis. Panel members must be prepared to commit their time and effort for the duration of the Terms of Reference (refer to Timeline above).
Chair
David Thompson
(Former auDA Director)
Operations
The Panel will determine its own operations procedures.
auDA will provide secretariat and other operational support to the Panel.