There hasn't been much discussion on this since Simon's comments so I'll
toss in a few more (apart from basically agreeing with Simon's):

At 19:44 8/7/97, Kevin Dinn wrote:
>Following is the first draft of the selection criteria for allocating
>new DNAs (Domain Name Administrators) and 2LDs (2nd Level Domains).
>
>Please feel free to comment copiously. Submissions for the final
>document will close at the endof July.
>
>Kevin Dinn
>(DNA Selection Working Group)
>
>------------------------
>
>Selection criteria for DNAs (Minimum requirements for DNA status):
>
>1. Must be an incorporated body,
>
>2. Must have at least 5 full time employees working for the company or
>intending to work for the company with at least 1 full time employee
>to devote to DN applications,

If we are going to throw in numbers here, the '1 full time employee'
should at least be '1 full time employee or equivalent'.

>3. A charge of $5000 to get setup - refundable minus any costs
>incurred in researching application if unsuccessful,
>
>4. Must have permanent connection to the Internet of at least 64K.
>This connection should be maintained to be unsaturated at all times,

Not sure if we want to get into service levels here, but 'unsaturated'
is pretty non-descript.  One should be concerned about both link (and
system) performance and reliability here.

>5. Must be covered by at least $500,000 professional indemnity
>insurance,
>
>6. Must submit business plan for company as a whole,

I have a real problem with this one.  If an applicant happens to be an IAP
and another IAP is on the review panel...  You have got to be joking!

>7. For each 2LD that they want to deal with, they should submit
>business plan for what they intend to do with it,

On the contrary to criteria 6, this is reasonable.

>8. Must submit contingency plan for support of its domains if
>business fails or decides to stop being DNA,
>
>9. DNAs for commercial domain names should be required to operate on a
>proper commercial basis, charging on the basis of total service costs
>plus margin for the DNA activity, to avoid predatory behaviour,

There could be restrictive trade practices issues here so this needs to
be treated with care.

>10. All DNAs operating within an SLD are subject to the same policy as
>specified by the original applicant,
>
>11. DNA licences should be reviewed and renewed annually.
>
>...

--
Chris Chaundy (Network Manager)

connect.com.au pty ltd, Level 9, 114 Albert Rd, Sth Melbourne, VIC 3205, Aust.
Internet: chris§connect.com.au   Phone: +61 3 9251-3671   Fax: +61 3 9251-3666