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North American Network Operators Group Date Prev | Date Next | Date Index | Thread Index | Author Index | Historical RFC - Roots For Consensus
---------- From: Jim Fleming[SMTP:[email protected]] Sent: Thursday, November 21, 1996 9:38 AM To: 'New Newdom'; '[email protected]'; Bob Allisat Cc: [email protected]; [email protected]; Jim Fleming; [email protected]; [email protected]; 'Mark Kosters'; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] Subject: RE: FW: RFC - Roots For Consensus On Wednesday, November 20, 1996 11:42 PM, Paul A Vixie[SMTP:[email protected]] wrote: @ > Paul A Vixie wrote: @ > >(edit)... Each root name server operator (*.ROOT-SERVERS.NET) @ > >carries exactly the data that the IANA has approved. Never more and @ > >never less. @ > @ > IANA was one fellow with a few @ > assistants. So this one fellow @ > tells nine other guys who run these @ > root servers exactly what names @ > will or will not be recognized? @ @ Yes. Think of the root name servers (not "the popular..." or "the old..." @ but simply THE ROOT NAME SERVERS) as common carriers. They are respon sible @ for accuracy and delivery but not content. @ Paul, I think it might be useful to define some common terminology. Root Name Server Primarily directs ISP Name Servers to TLD Name Servers TLD Name Server Primarily directs ISP Name Servers to SLD Name Servers SLD Name Server Primarily directs ISP Name Servers to Web and Mail Servers ISP Name Server Primarily serve customers' stub resolvers and interface with all of the above name servers in a frequency that decreases from the top (Root) to the Bottom (SLD and below) because of caching. No one argues that accuracy and coherence are not important. In fact, one way to gain better accuracy and coherence is to make sure that name servers are properly classified, configured, and maintained. One of the current problems with the overall DNS system is that the 9 "popular" Root Name Servers mix (or combine) the function of a Root Name Server and a TLD Name Server. In a similar manner, many ISPs combine the function of their ISP Name Server and one or more SLD Name Servers. This is especially true in the case where "virtual" domains are used. There are many reasons why accuracy and coherence are important. One of the main reasons is to ensure accuracy in financial accounting records, interstate commerce, and accurate fullfillment of Federal and State tax laws. I suggest that everyone operating a Root Name Server and a TLD Name Server consult with their attorneys and accountants regarding how income derived from the operation of those servers has to be properly and "accurately" attributed to the proper taxing authority at the Federal and State levels. One of the reasons why it is important to separate the Root Name Servers from the TLD Name Servers is because there may be no income and/or profits derived from operating a Root Name Server. On the other hand, operating a .COM TLD Name Server, in a particular State (let's say Kansas) means that some portion of the income derived from operating that server and service has to be attributed to the State of Kansas. That way there will be accuracy and coherence when companies file their tax returns. @ > And this is how a critical element @ > in the communications of 50+ @ > million people was being governed? @ @ Yes. This is a "principle" and its name is "coherence". (I'm quoting those @ words for the benefit of Mr. Fleming, who will probably need to look both of @ them up in a dictionary.) @ @ > What an amateurish, closed and @ > utterly bankrupt process! Bring @ > on Root 64 Mr Fleming! NOW! At @ > least there will be 64 or more @ > participants. That makes abuses @ > far more unlikely. @ > Bob Allisat @ @ You are arguing in favour of "the tyranny of the majority" and if you'll @ check your history books you'll see that it hasn't worked out well whenever @ it's been tried. @ @ If you would rather have 64 root name servers that DO NOT LISTEN TO SOME @ CENTRAL AUTHORITY and each offer their own version of the DNS name space, @ then you do not understand (a) history, (b) politics, (c) economics, @ (d) engineering, (e) science, and (f) ethics. @ Once again, I suggest that people check with their attorney's and accountants on how tax laws work at the Federal and State levels. I believe that these laws have been developed over hundreds of years and certainly cover (a), (b), (c), and (f). It seems to me that people who are focused on (d) and (e) may not understand all of the ramifications of their actions. @ "Coherence" is how we got "here" and it's how we'll get from here onward. @ IANA is changing the authority model so that there will be more lawyers and @ more insurance policies and more people able to take the heat, and under @ that expanded shield there is room for a mechanism that admits more iTLD's. @ @ But while we will see an end to the single-person authority model, we will @ NOT see an end to the need for, and the presence of, DNS coherence. You can @ rail against this and you can wail about this but DNS just will not work @ without coherence and the Internet citizenry will not be able to get useful @ work done without coherence. @ @ I have directed followups to a mailing list that I do not read. Please @ continue this discussion there without me. @ @ Paul, as long as you operate a Root Name Server and more importantly a TLD Name Server for the "commercial" .COM domain in the State of California then I would think that you would want to keep up with how the laws of that State apply to you. Also, since you appear to be operating this commercial venture as a non-profit operation (ISC?), I would think that you would also be interested in Federal Tax laws and how accuracy and coherence are key to making that system work. You can bury your head in the sand, but if you do, I suggest that it be in International waters off the coast of California, because at this point in time you are standing on Federal and State soil, and that makes you, your companies and your servers subject to the laws of those regions. If you have some special "dispensation" from the IANA or the ISOC that makes you immune from Federal and State laws, please let everyone know. -- Jim Fleming UNETY Systems, Inc. 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