From: Paul <paul@mansfield.co.uk>
To: <DNSTransition@ntia.doc.gov>
Date: Mon, Jul 3, 2006 8:03 AM
Subject: Comments in ICANN/IANA etc

Before ICANN came along the internet worked quite well using cooperation rather than force

ICANN have caused a lot of distrust amongst Internet Service Providers (I was a senior sysadmin at a large UK provider [UK division of PSINet] so felt the affects all too well), have caused a lot of dissenssion, and also cost the internet a lot of money for no apparent gain.

ICANN also have an appalling reputation as being non-transparent and making arbitrary decisions, with various board members having gone on record as stating the system is unfair.

ICANN should be abolished and replaced with an *elected* body, independent of any specific national government, free from vested interest with a simple but carefully written remit as to their purpose, and with a constrained but sensible budget to prevent graft.

regards
Paul