IP: CSTB Study on Internet Searching and the Domain Name System

[David Farber <dave@farber.net>]

>From: "Alan Inouye" <AInouye@nas.edu>
>To: dave@farber.net
>
>The Computer Science and Telecommunications Board (CSTB)
>of the National Academies announces the launch of its study on
>
>INTERNET SEARCHING AND THE DOMAIN NAME SYSTEM:
>Technical Alternatives and Policy Implications
>
>This project will examine the impact of technological developments
>and policy changes on the domain name system and other mechanisms
>that individuals rely upon to find the information that they seek on the
>Internet.  The final report (to be issued in 2002) is expected to characterize
>the institutions, policies, procedures, research, and development needed
>to ensure that searching on the Internet remains feasible and can improve
>in capability throughout the decade and will include a discussion of the
>important and unresolved issues concerning trademarks.
>(See below for the full project scope and roster of members of the
>study committee) This study is sponsored by the U. S. Department
>of Commerce and the National Science Foundation and is mandated
>by the U. S. Congress through Public Law 105-305.
>
>* First Meeting of the Project
>The first committee meeting of this study will take place on
>April 9-10, 2001, at the National Academies in Washington, DC.  There
>will be a session open to the public on April 9 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
>The panel sessions on April 9 will focus on the relevant policy context;
>panelists will be asked to identify those topics that should be
>emphasized in this study.  Panelists include Becky Burr
>(Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering), Alan Davidson (Center for Democracy
>and Technology), Michael Froomkin (University of Miami),
>M. Stuart Lynn (ICANN), Steve Metalitz [invited]
>(International Intellectual Property Association), David
>Post (Temple University), Michael Roberts (formerly of
>ICANN), Shari Steele (Electronic Frontier Foundation), and
>Emerson Tiller (University of Texas); additional panelists may
>also participate.  Aubrey Bush from the National Science
>Foundation and representatives of the U. S. Department of Commerce
>will also address the study committee.  Since space is limited for
>observers, advance registration is strongly recommended; please
>contact Margaret Marsh at <mmarsh@nas.edu> or 202-334-2605
>to register.  Additional details concerning this first meeting or the
>study may be found at the Web site of the National Academies
><www.nationalacademies.org>.  Click on "current projects"
>(at the top of the screen) and search for the name of this study.
>
>* Public Comment and Project Updates
>Public comments to the study committee are welcome and may
>be made at any time by sending email to <nrcisdns@nas.edu>.
>CSTB will also be providing periodic updates on the project
>and notices of upcoming sessions open to the public via an
>e-mail list.  If you wish to receive these updates, please send
>your request to <nrcisdns@nas.edu> as well.
>
>* Project Scope
>This project will examine the impact of technological developments
>and policy changes on the domain name system and other mechanisms
>that individuals rely upon to find the information that they seek on the
>Internet.
>It will assess the effect on Internet name assignment, addressing, and
>searching of trends such as the continuing increase in the number of
>Internet users and sites, the growth in embedded computing devices,
>and the introduction of permanent personal and object identifiers.  It will
>identify, describe and evaluate emerging technologies that can affect
>Internet searching.  Some of the approaches to be considered are: the
>addition of generic top level domains; new name assignment,
>addressing and indexing schemes; new directory structures for locating
>information or sites of interest; and improved user interfaces for
>accessing information on the Internet.
>
>The technologies that support finding information on the Internet are
>deployed within a complex and contentious international policy context.
>The "right" to use a particular domain name can often be disputed--
>sometimes as an honest conflict among multiple, legitimate claimants;
>sometimes by cybersquatters seeking to profit in the secondary market
>for domain names; and sometimes by those who wish to post negative
>information or parody a like-named organization.  Effective solutions
>must consider the potentially competing interests of domain name
>owners and trademark holders; the different interests of large multinational
>corporations, small business owners and individuals; and public interests
>such as freedom of speech and personal privacy.
>
>This study will examine the degree to which the options offered by new
>technology or new uses of existing technology can mitigate concerns
>regarding trademarks and other economic or public interests, facilitate or
>impede further evolution of the Internet, and affect steps being taken to
>enhance competition among domain name registrars, the portability of
>Internet addresses, and the stability of the Internet.  For each of the
>prospective technologies, the final report is expected to characterize
>institutions, policies and procedures that should be put in place
>to complement it and will specify the research (if any) required to
>develop it.
>
>Additional information describing the National Academies
>study process may be found at
><http://www.nationalacademies.org/about/ensuring.html>.
>Additional information concerning CSTB may be found
>at <www.cstb.org>.
>
>* Committee Roster
>Provisionally Approved by the National Academies
>
>ROGER LEVIEN, Chair
>Strategy & Innovation Consulting
>Principal and Founder
>
>ROBERT AUSTEIN
>Vice President of Engineering
>InterNetShare.com
>
>CHRISTINE L. BORGMAN
>Professor & Presidential Chair in Information Studies
>Graduate School of Education & Information Studies
>University of California, Los Angeles
>
>JEAN CAMP
>Assistant Professor of Public Policy
>John F. Kennedy School of Government
>Harvard University
>
>TIMOTHY CASEY
>Partner Resident
>Fried Frank Haris Shriver and Jacobson
>
>LESLIE DAIGLE
>Executive Vice President
>Rattlenote Technology Inc.
>
>HUGH DUBBERLY
>Principal
>Dubberly Design Office
>
>CHARLES H. FERGUSON
>Chairman
>Juice Software, Inc. and Capital Thinking, Inc.
>
>TAMAR FRANKEL
>Professor
>Boston University Law School
>
>PER-KRISTIAN HALVORSEN
>Director
>Solutions and Services Technology Center
>Hewlett-Packard Research Labs
>
>MARYLEE JENKINS
>Partner
>Robin Blecker & Daley
>
>JOHN C. KLENSIN
>Internet Architecture Vice President
>AT&T
>
>MILTON L. MUELLER
>Associate Professor and Director
>Graduate Program in Telecommunications and Networking Management
>School of Information Studies
>Syracuse University
>
>WILLIAM RADUCHEL
>Executive Vice President
>AOL Time Warner
>
>HAL R. VARIAN
>Dean
>School of Information Management and Systems
>University of California, Berkeley
>
>PAUL VIXIE
>Chairman
>Internet Software Consortium
>
>
>S T A F F
>
>ALAN INOUYE
>Study Director and Senior Program Officer
>
>CYNTHIA PATTERSON
>Program Officer
>
>MARGARET MARSH
>Senior Project Assistant



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