The consultation period for the Electronic Communications Miscellaneous Provisions Bill (MS Word Doc) is currently open.
One of the areas that the bill mentions is the IE domain registry:
Head 12 – Regulation of the Internet .ie Domain Name by ComReg
12.1 ComReg may by Regulation provide for:
• the transfer of powers, in relation to the regulation of the .ie domain name, vested in the Minister to ComReg
• access by ComReg to the .ie domain name database on an ongoing basis
• the creation of an offence, where the operator of the Internet .ie domain name, fails to comply with regulations introduced by ComReg.
• Provide for increase of summary fine under subsection (3) of Section 31 of the above Act to €5,000.
Notes 12.1
Section 31 of the Electronic Commerce Act, 2000 provides powers to the Minister to make regulations in respect of the management of the .ie domain name. To date the Minister has not made any such regulations. The purpose of this Section is to transfer the Minister’s powers to ComReg and for the creation of an offence where the operator of the .ie domain name fails to comply with regulations introduced by ComReg. The Section also intends to provide ComReg with access to the .ie domain database to ensure that the list of registered users is at all times kept up to date and functioning on the Internet.
If the IEDR were to introduce a proper registrar / registry system then they could pass a lot of this burden onto the current resellers.
In some regards this could be a good opportunity for the IEDR to some maintenance of their contacts’ database. In other respects some industry commentators see it as an opportunity for people to attack the IEDR.
Why is it that the IE namespace has so many issues?
Is it the registry’s fault or the fault of some of the hypocrites reselling the domains?
As of January 1st 2006 both the retail and wholesale cost of IE domain registration was cut. Why hasn’t the “champion” of the IE namespace pricing cut their prices?
I think we all know the answer to that one …..
So is this the last hurrah for the board of IEDR?
If it had a proper advisory group and people who had domain/hosting industry experience on the board rather than a bunch of political and academic appointees, .ie would not have had the problems it has had to date.
John – Who knows what will happen in the future, but maybe industry representation would improve matters ….