The Postage Stamp Plan is very simple: 1. Take the current 2-letter TLDs and move them to the postal authorities for the country or area the TLD supposedly covers. For the .IO TLD it might end up some where near the Indian Ocean. In the U.S. and Canada that will be "private" corporations. 2. Allow each of the 2-letter TLD authorities to select UP TO 6 additional generic TLDs much the way they create postage stamps. [As an aside, there is evidently an ELVIS stamp in the U.S. This shows that some creativity may be allowed.] 3. Have the 2-letter TLD "postel authority" contract to have the registry functions handled on an out-sourced basis to a variety of companies and government agencies. 4. Through rain, and snow and sleet...deliver the mail... For example: .US - U.S. Postal Service - subcontracted to ???? .COM - subcontracted to ???? .NET - subcontracted to ???? .ORG - subcontracted to ???? ISOC ??? .GOV - subcontracted to ???? .MIL - subcontracted to ???? DOD ??? .EDU - subcontracted to ???? .CH - Switzerland .INT - subcontracted to ???? .NOM - subcontracted to ??? CORE ??? .FIRM - subcontracted to ??? CORE ??? .SHOP - subcontracted to ??? CORE ??? .REC - subcontracted to ??? CORE ??? .INFO - subcontracted to ??? CORE ??? .CA - Canada .XXX - subcontracted to ??? .SEX - subcontracted to ??? .PER - subcontracted to ??? .??? - subcontracted to ??? .??? - subcontracted to ??? .??? - subcontracted to ??? <Over 240 additional 2-letter TLDs omitted> The U.S. Government's legacy Root Name Server Confederation then just has to declare that it only accepts "postage stamps" from Postel Authorities. Apparently, that Root Name Server Confederation will be run by the new IANA Inc. It is just one of many. Here is some info for an organization that might be able to help provide a neutral forum for resolving the details. @@@@@ http://postinfo.upu.org POST*Info is the interactive Web Site published by the UPU's Postal Technology Centre. POST*Info is aimed towards promoting postal technologies in general and the support of the UPU's Telematics Project in particular." @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@ http://postinfo.upu.org/PI_TC_Menu.htm "The objectives of the Telematics Cooperative are: to identify and fulfill the current and future postal aims and requirements in the field of information systems and electronic communications, particularly those involving Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) related products and services; to establish a common electronic infrastructure which matches the well established postal physical infrastructure; to implement systems which ensure secure information exchange, secure payments and secure deliveries between PPOs and with their customers; to implement operational and management systems which ensures rapid pick-up and delivery; to establish systems which will help PPOs become more competitive in the fields of Administration and Production and enable the development of value-added services related to basic postal products and services; to secure a stable and sufficient funding of Telematics Projects entrusted upon the International Bureau, and specifically its Postal Technology Center, in order to ensure the continuation of the deployment, maintenance, and support activities carried out in this field. The main aims of the Telematics Cooperative are: Establish strategies and instruments through which it intends to achieve its objectives; Ensure fair access to the UPU's products and services to all PPOs in general and to the Cooperative members in particular; Promote cooperation between member PPOs in order to allow them to provide their customers with a coherent set of integrated information services on a global basis; Involve member PPOs in the provision and support of Telematics products and services under the UPU's umbrella; Provide the highest quality service to its members and secure optimal organization at all times; and Help enhance the global image of the Post @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@ http://postinfo.upu.org/PI_TC_CMB.htm "The Cooperative Management Board (CMB) is the formal management structure designated to supervise the activities of the Telematics Cooperative established by the UPU to support its Telematics activities." @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ John Hurlen Norway Post Chairman, Cooperative Management Board E-Mail: john.hurlen at sentralledelsen.posten.no Christiane Herve La Poste, France Vice Chairman, Business Plans and Finance E-Mail: lapostedaei2 at magic.fr Shuji Obu Postal Bureau, Japan Vice Chairman, Mail Services E-Mail: s-obu at mpt.go.jp Dean Pope Canada Post Vice Chairman, Electronic Services E-Mail: dean.pope at mailposte.ca George Shipman United States Postal Service Vice Chairman, Financial Services E-Mail: gshipman at email.usps.gov Samuel M. Jabbour International Bureau of the UPU Head of Postal Technology Centre E-Mail: jabbour at ptc.upu.org @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ -------- Logged at Tue Jun 30 09:33:25 MET DST 1998 ---------