[registrars] Verisign batch pool advisory

[Tim Ruiz]

Bhavin,

I was on the road all last week myself. But my understanding is that either
1 or 2 *will* be implemented. With the backlog of new registrars VeriSign
needs to do something for the short term pretty quickly. Since for now,
these are going to be our only choices, I would prefer to see 1 implemented.

The reason is that I don't believe 2 will do anything to stop the tide of
*phantom* accreditations just for the purpose of using the batch pool. There
is too much money at stake for this option to be effective.

So while option 1 may not be ideal either, for now, it will make the
usefulness of the *phantom* registrars pretty much nil.

Also, with Network Solutions' and Tucows' intention to offer a secondary
market service to registrants with expiring/deleting names, far less
valuable names are going to actually hit the drop list anyway. So I think
the future value of the batch pool is going to change dramatically.

Tim 



-----Original Message-----
From: owner-registrars at gnso.icann.org
[mailto:owner-registrars at gnso.icann.org] On Behalf Of Bhavin Turakhia
Sent: Tuesday, September 28, 2004 1:57 PM
To: 'Registrars Constituency'
Subject: [registrars] Verisign batch pool advisory


Hi all,

Works been a lil hectic - and I am gonna be out travelling most of the next
2-3 weeks. However here is one of the first agenda that needs our attention

Verisign had sent out a batch pool Advisory note proposing two solutions for
the batch pool as follows -

1.	One measure would require registrars to keep automated batch pool
processing within reasonable limits.  Specifically, registrars would be
required to not exceed a maximum ratio of total transactions for every
successful transaction. <snip>

2.	A second option we are considering is providing capacity to the
batch pool on a fee basis, which would be available to all registrars. For a
fixed monthly charge per single connection <snip>

Both the above solutions in their current proposed form are very raw and
their implications need to be studied in detail. For instance I can see
several implications instantly

* In case of option (1) the larger registrars have an advantage since they
have a greater number of transactions

* In case of option (2) companies with deeper pockets have an advantage, and
more importantly this will lead to a status quo situation where noone will
make money except verisign since everyone will be buying conections until it
reaches a point where everyone is just abt covering their costs

* if option (1) is adopted icann will fail to meet its budget since all
registrars will be below the 1:200 ratio and therefore all of us will meet
the forgiveness criteria laid out in the budget

* there is other implications to aspects like - does this qualify as a
registry service? etc


I would like to be able to do the following -

* I think we should send an email to Verisign asking them for some more time
to draft out an official response from the constituency as well as have
individual registrars who have not yet had the time to pen out their
thoughts send them in. This is very important since none of us have had enuf
time to respond to this and the constituency has not had enuf time to figure
out a response either

* I would like everyone to post their concerns about both the above
solutiobns and any suggested modifications you may have for these

* I would like to have people volunteer to form a small group to study all
the implications and issues

* I would like to have people assist in drafting out a response from the
constituency's perspective. While I know we may not be able to achieve
consensus since all of us may have different ideas, it is atleast important
to pen down our collective concerns and see if we can figure out a solution
or atleast bring to Verisign's attention the potential problems with these 2
solutions

Ummm ..... I think thts all for now :)

Help me get the ball rolling

Best Regards
Bhavin Turakhia
Founder, CEO and Chairman
DirectI
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