Ian, what's the point of effective competition and lower prices, when you're
dealing with a product that consumers neither want nor believe they need?
(and here I'm talking about new markets)

I don't smoke - I don't care if there's a monopoly on matches and they're
overpriced :~).

Ron Stark


-----Original Message-----
From: Ian Johnston [mailto:ian.johnston§infobrokers.com.au]
Sent: Tuesday, 11 June 2002 11:10 AM
To: DNS
Subject: [DNS] Competition between 2LDs & monopoly registry operators


Patrick Corliss wrote Monday, June 10, 2002 6:03 PM
>
> In relation to ... [the] point about the registrars' support,
> I see that Nexsta (a provisionally accedited registrar) is
> not really in favour of new 2LDs.  My bet is that
> AusRegistry (the new .au registry) is not either
> as it would confuse their marketing strategy.
>
> I supect it's really a bit of a trade-off.  New 2LDs could
> generate a demand for domain names.  On the other hand,
> too many 2LDs could cause consumer confusion.

Patrick

I've repeatedly heard (as no doubt you have) the arguments advanced
for limiting new 2LDs, including that consumer confusion is / may be
caused.

I have to say that as a consumer advocate I can see that point, but
it's not compelling.

The issue of confusion can and has been addressed in other industries
(e.g. telecommunications and banking products over the last two
decades, though belatedly) by consumer education programs funded
through government, the industries and regulators.

Effective competition is far more important from a consumer
perspective.

Competition between 2LDs - particularly monopoly registry operators in
each 2LD - that leads to greater industry efficiency, innovation,
lower domain name licence prices, enhanced service quality, will best
serve the interests of consumers.


--
Ian Johnston, Policy Consultant
Small Enterprise Telecommunications Centre (SETEL)
www.setel.com.au  mailto:ian.johnston§setel.com.au
02 6258 3409 (B/F)  02 6259 7777 (B)  0413 990 112 (M)

SETEL is a national small business consumer association
advancing the interest of Australian small business
as telecommunications and e-commerce consumers





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