From: Lejla Vrazalic 
Sent: Friday, 30 July 2004 7:25 PM
To: jo.lim@auda.org.au
Subject: Review of auDA policy (com.au and net.au) - Feedback

Dear Jo,

I would like to express my reservations about the proposed removal of 
the restrictions on the geographic names in the .com.au and .net.au 
domains. Having been involved in the One City One Site pilot project, I 
have grave concerns about the impact of removing these restrictions on 
the future and sustainability of the second and third level community 
geographic domain names (CGDNs).

The CGDN model is the first of its kind in the world and I hope that 
auDA recognises its inherent value and innovativeness. Establishing 
domains solely for websites that are built FOR the community, BY the 
community is not only ground breaking, but also sets a new standard for 
domain management that other countries are sure to follow. We simply 
cannot let this model fail.

Over the past four months, I have observed three local communities 
involved in the pilot testing of this model embrace it wholeheartedly. 
Individuals from all three communities have selflessly volunteered their 
time and efforts to apply for a CGDN, with few resources. They have 
forged partnerships with a number of local organisations, they have 
sought and received donations and sponsorships from the local government 
and businesses, they have met with key community stakeholders, they have 
planned, workshopped, written letters,... By the end of the year, all 
three communities will have developed and launched their very own 
websites under the banner "For the community, By the community". To 
unleash a set of 'competing' domains and websites at the same time would 
have a devastating impact on these three local communities, and on any 
future communities applying for CGDNs.

Why? Because in one corner, you have a group of individuals that 
represent their local community working hard to find the resources to 
pay and apply for a CGDN, and then develop it into a useful community 
resource. The policy requirements on CGDNs are stringent - and 
rightfully so in order to protect the interests of local communities and 
ensure broad representation. In the other corner, you have affluent 
individuals/organisations with resources to spare, vying for what is 
probably the most lucrative piece of online real estate, which will 
(possibly) be sold to the highest bidder. (That is an issue which 
remains unclear - how will the .com.au and .net.au domains be allocated, 
for how long and how much will they cost?)

dubbo.nsw.au cannot possibly compete with dubbo.com.au or dubbo.net.au. 
As a researcher in Human Computer Interaction, I well versed with how 
people use URLs and search for information on the web. .com.au and 
.net.au domains have been around for a long time and most people are 
familiar with them. CGDNs have not and people need to hear about them. 
The CGDN model is in its infancy. It needs to be developed and promoted. 
Local communities in Australia must be given the opportunity to learn 
about community geographic domain names, consider them, apply for them 
and use them for their benefit. By removing the restrictions on the 
.com.au and .net.au domains at this time (or indeed, in the next 3 to 5 
years), auDA will be denying local communities the opportunity to do so.

I hope auDA will take this into consideration when making a decision.

Thank you.

Best wishes,
Lejla

-- 
Lejla Vrazalic
Lecturer

Information Systems
University of Wollongong