Question: As TLDs proliferate, it will become increasingly easy for the internet to be segmented by TLD, reducing positive network externalities and creating parallel internets inaccessible to certain users. While this issue is partly a technological one whose outcome will be determined by ISPs, what can ICANN do to prevent Balkanization?

Nominee Replies

Harris Miller - posted on 2000-10-08 09:03:52 While I hopeful the universe you envision does not occur, one of the reasons I support adding TLD's gradually, over time, is to determine the impact of new TLD's on the Internet community. While I believe most Internet users want more TLD's, it is not clear to me that most users want thousands or tens of thousands of TLD's, as other candidates advocate. Emerson Tiller, J.D., Ph.D. - posted on 2000-10-03 16:22:53 I am not sure if balkanization will occur if the technology and markets are efficient. But if these break down, ICANN should facilitate communication and cooperation through information sessions and discussion groups. I would not favor any coercive efforts on ICANN's part. Lawrence Lessig - posted on 2000-10-03 04:31:46 I don't see the danger. There isn't any balkanization between tlds now; there's no reason there should be any in the future. tlds are just names, which if there were many tlds, might become meaningful names. That, it seems to me, would be useful.