MEDIACOM-RELEASE-ISOCNZ

MANAGMENT OF INTERNET IN NEW ZEALAND UNDER STUDY

The Internet Society of New Zealand which oversees the issuing of domain names in this country, through its wholly owned subsidiary Domainz, is holding meetings in Auckland and Wellington to gain feedback on alternatives models for registering domain names on the Internet.

Computer Science Professor, John Hine of Victoria University, is heading the working party. He says over recent years there has been considerable turmoil within the global Internet community with respect to the administration of domain names and associated numbers. ISOCNZ has set up the working party to investigate possible alternatives to the present system of registration through Domainz.

He says ISOCNZ is keen to receive the views of users and other interested parties on such alternatives as shared registration systems and other registry models.

"The question being asked is how do we deal with a natural monopoly such as .nz and at the same time fulfil the objects of the Society which include the competitive provision of Internet access, services and facilities in an open and uncapturable environment."

Professor Hine says more than 100 invitations have been sent out for the working party forums on Thursday April 13 in Auckland and Monday April 17 in Wellington.

As well as presenting to the working party interested groups and individuals can make submissions directly through a website www.isocnz.org.nz/consult where all submissions submitted, other than those classified as confidential, will be posted. Submissions close on April 20.

Professor Hine says the working party will have a draft proposal available early in May and is anticipating considerable further feedback from the community at that stage. The findings of the working party will be reported to the ISOCNZ annual general meeting at the end of June.

ENDS