I think auDA got this wrong the same way they did .id.au .  You can argue
all you like about the au namespace being great to have town.vic.au etc but
people will have trouble remembering these names. It's too hard and why
should they be bothered. People will simply type what they think it maybe
into Google. I remember Mr Disspain telling me 10 years ago that .id.au
would be the new gold rush for domains. Too hard. If people want a vanity
URL they want a simple one. Not one they have to tell people time and time
again. The shorter the URL the better. People have trouble with .gov.au
domains their not going to try to learn a new domain structure.

Rod seriously, were you kidding? A domain name is not a website.
Jim Stewart
Managing Director
Stew Art Media

On 26 November 2010 17:06, Rod Keys <info&#167;ddns.com.au> wrote:

> Brett,
> All the costs are now rolled into the existing system and the ongoing
> cost of the program would in my view be negligible (gee we run systems
> just like this the last time I looked but please enlighten my if I am
> wrong). Some good outcomes have been made in bush fire ravaged areas
> around Melbourne for local communities to communicate emergency
> procedures ETC. To not see this is a gross misunderstanding of the facts
> and I would hope if your one day involved in such a catastrophe you
> would be glad to have this information at hand ....Sometimes you guys in
> Sydney should not just focus on the $$$$$. Same Brett shame.
> I think something like 140 Australians lost their lives during this bush
> fire and if the community domain name initiatives help save some lives
> in the future I think that would be well worth it.
> Have a nice weekend.
> Rod Keys
>
>
>
> Brett Fenton wrote:
> > As you might be aware there is currently a review of the CGDN policy by
> auDA.
> >
> > Comments for this close December 3rd, I've submitted my thoughts which
> I've
> > copied below.
> >
> > Basically this program has resulted in 200 registrations at a cost of
> around
> > $2M - or $10,000 per domain registered. The original funding for auCD
> came
> > from the funds auDA received when the geographic domains were released.
> That
> > funding is exhausted, and the program is now being funded as part of the
> fee
> > auDA collects on each domain registration.
> >
> > I feel strongly this is a gross waste of money for zero actual benefit as
> per
> > my comments. I would encourage any stakeholder in the .au space from both
> the
> > demand and supply sides, to look at this program, and at least ask
> questions
> > as to why this is continuing, if not to contrbiute to the public comment
> > process.
> >
> > ---Begin
> >
> > Dear Lujia,
> >
> > Thank you for the opportunity to express my views of the CGDN policy.
> >
> > These comments represent the view of the Online Growth Solutions Ltd
> group of
> > companies, which includes Netregistry Pty Ltd, Hostess Pty Ltd,
> PlanetDomain
> > Pty Ltd, MDWebhosting Pty Ltd and TPP Internet Pty Ltd, all companies are
> > accredited Registrars in a range of spaces including the .au and gtld.
> >
> > I shall reserve all of my comments to the following clause in the policy:
> >
> > "2.1 auDA has created the CGDNs in order to preserve Australian
> geographic
> > names for use by the relevant local community. The aim is to provide an
> > intuitive, standardised naming system to enable better access to local
> > community, tourism and business information and to facilitate social and
> > economic benefits to Australian communities."
> >
> > As at todays date communities have been able to register in the 3th level
> for
> > the past 4 years.
> >
> > During that time a total of just over 200 domains have been registered,
> at an
> > expense in excess of approximately $2,000,000.
> >
> > That is in simple terms some $10,000 per domain registered.
> >
> > Clearly by any measure, this program has been an abject failure.
> >
> >>From the cgdn.org.au website:
> >
> > "The auCD company was wound up on 30th June, 2010 at the project funds
> end and
> > auDA is continuing to support the initiative within their operations as
> part
> > of their community engagement and education activities."
> >
> > I question not only the logic of auDA absorbing these ongoing costs, but
> also
> > the fact we have an open policy review process, however the decision to
> bear
> > those costs, didn't seem to follow the same open decision making process
> where
> > any stakeholder comment was sought.
> >
> > Every domain name registrant currently registering a domain in the .au
> space
> > is continuing to fund this program, by way of the auDA fee, and has every
> > right to be concerned that that money is continuing to be grossly wasted,
> with
> > no business case, no expected social outcomes and generally no oversight
> into
> > the proposed benefits of the program.
> >
> > The aim of the policy as stated is clearly not being met, there is no
> demand
> > for this space, no uptake by local communities and therefore no increased
> > access or economic benefits to local communities.
> >
> > I would call for:
> >
> > 1) The existing domains to be "grand fathered" for a fixed period of time
> (of
> > which there is precedent in the space); and
> >
> > 2) The immediate cessation of any new registrations; and
> >
> > 3) auDA providing assistance to transition existing Registrants to a
> domain in
> > an existing .au space (org.au).
> >
> > Regards,
> > Brett Fenton
> >
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > List policy, unsubscribing and archives => http://dotau.org/
> >
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
> List policy, unsubscribing and archives => http://dotau.org/
>
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