Rod,

Yes - websites can be very useful - what's your point?

The commercial sector would have done it for a fraction of the cost.

Cheers,
Kirk

On Fri, Nov 26, 2010 at 5:33 PM, Rod Keys <info&#167;ddns.com.au> wrote:

> Jim,
> I suggest you have a look at what is being done within that namespace
> and see what communities are up to then make comment.
> Rod
>
>
> jim Stewart wrote:
> > 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
> >>>
> >>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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> >>>
> >>
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> >>
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> >
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