IP: Fwd: dot US - some questions that need to be asked (was) Why/Who is getting a big gift from the USG and why?

[David Farber <dave@farber.net>]

>X-Sender: cook@pop3.netaxs.com
>Date: Sat, 28 Jul 2001 17:42:18 -0400
>To: farber@cis.upenn.edu
>From: Gordon Cook <cook@cookreport.com>
>Subject: dot US - some questions that need to be asked (was) Why/Who is
>  getting a big gift from the USG and why?
>
>Hi Dave,
>
>Regarding the give away of dot us.
>
>To understand what is going on folk need to talk with Karen Rose at the 
>Department of Commerce. For approximately the past 2 years this very young 
>attorney has been making policy on dot us, ENUM and ICANN for the Clinton 
>administration and now the Bush administration. Karen was installed in her 
>position at NTIA by Beckwith Burr.  Becky has been back at Wilmer Cutler 
>for, I believe, at least a year. Karen has been left at NTIA in the mean 
>time and as far as i can tell has made critical decisions in the arcane 
>areas of dot US, ENUM, and ICANN without any real supervision except for 
>the assiduous attention of those with interests in the areas she 
>supervises.  Given the change in administrations (and especially given the 
>Bush administration's apparent lack of interest in the Internet), Karen 
>has had amazing autonomy which, it seems to me as a long time observer of 
>these issues, she uses on behalf of her constituents: Verisign, Neustar, 
>ICANN and others. To most people her areas of authority are exceedingly 
>obscure. (Never the less in January 2000 she represented the US government 
>in Geneva at an ITU meeting designed to work out strategy between the USG, 
>ITU and IETF on ENUM.) The disposition of dot US, ICANN, and ENUM will 
>involve a lot of money and power.  I would hope that the press will 
>quickly start to ask the right questions.  I believe that there is enough 
>time left to make a difference.
>
>As far as dot US is concerned to anyone in the DNS industry it looks like 
>a HUGE cash cow..... What is going on here really needs close scrutiny 
>that it hasn't been getting.  I have never been a fan of your  phrase 
>'adult supervision' - however I must admit that with Karen it is needed.
>
>
>>Good question, why is the US Govern giving away a valuable piece of 
>>property Dave
>>
>>>Date: Sat, 28 Jul 2001 10:29:12 -0400
>>>From: David Austin <daustin@disciples.com>
>>>To: farber@cis.upenn.edu
>>>
>>>
>>>Dave
>>>why dont they consider an auction to qualified bidders?? perhaps you 
>>>could call some of
>>>your friends in DC
>>>dave austin
>>
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