Reparations

An argument is made that the vitality of cities has been damaged by the globalizing force of the narrow and restrictive DNS policy that has enabled two TLDs to provide over 80% of all domain names. It is suggested that funds should be shifted from developed TLDs, particularly .com and .net, to assist with the creation of city-TLDs so as to redress the cultural and commercial damage done to that venerable institution, the city. This page will review that issue and explore if other groups and institutions have been damaged and might qualify for reparation efforts.

As a starting point, one must determine if there was indeed damage. Did the massive growth of globalization over the last decade result in any way from the development of the Internet? Did the narrow availability of TLDs and growth of the .com TLD have an impact on the traditional crossroads role of cities? Was any negative impact felt equally by all cities? If not equal, which type of cities were more affected? Was the impact primarily economic or were there social and cultural ramifications?

Assuming damage is found, one must then determine if it was caused by intention or accident. To help answer these questions, research needs to start with the following:

• Locate discussions associated with RFC 920 that created the first TLDs. How were the initial TLDs selected? What were the options considered? Who made the decision?
• Locate discussion that enabled transition from research to general commercial use of .com.
• Review .com administration and management control transfers. Reporting To God provides insight into the transitions during the Clinton Administration and offers an excellent starting point.

Determining recipients leads to a slew of philosophical and ethical questions. Cities are one apparent group that has been damaged by the resprictive DNS policy, with nations coming to mind as another. Global cities like Paris, London, and NYC have a powerful call on these funds, as they were probably the most damaged and have the resources to make their case. A Cities Reparations Fund could be established to assist with the design and development of city-TLDs. One suggestion has called for an equitable distribution of benefits by initiating a paired-cities program with one partner a well connected global city, and the other a lesser connected regional city. Another approach might create a broader DNS Reparations Fund that would look to nations and other geographic and cultural entities damaged by the restrictive policy.