In a bid to obtain specific comment and input on the structure of the .za internet domain as well as engaging a wide range of stakeholders, the .za Domain Name Authority (.zaDNA) has started a public consultative process around the country-code top-level domain name, the statutory authority said on Monday.
It urged South Africans, both within and beyond the internet community, to offer their views on how what policies the domain registration should enforce.
The authority said the domain name space needs to evolve into a structured model in line with global practice: policies relevant to a maturing internet have to be established and the growth of the internet and the narrowing of the digital divide need to be achieved.
.zaDNA is tasked with administering and managing South Africa’s domain-name space. In addition to these duties, it is also mandated to license and regulate registries and registrars and develop policy for the local space.
“The purpose of this process is to obtain specific comment and input concerning the structure of the .za domain and to engage a wide range of stakeholders in a far broader process regarding its use, including access, education and outreach,” the authority said.
Key policy issues up for discussion include how the South African domain name should be structured, including whether it should be opened up for second-level registrations and who should administer the database of .za domains.
The document also calls for input about whether subdomains (such as gov.za, org.za and ac.za) should be administered by a centralised organisation, or by multiple registries. There is also the question of who should be licensed to access the database of .za domains.
Digital divide
“One of the key issues highlighted in the area of internet governance over the past few years has been the digital divide that exists. This divide exists not only in respect of access to technology, but also in respect of the knowledge regarding the technology,” the statutory body said.
It has been recognised in many countries that the ad hoc efforts of the pioneers are no longer appropriate in an environment where the super-highway of information has become a critical communications mechanism for business, the government, communities and individuals.
Thus, there is an evolving formalisation of internet policy-making on global and national levels. This formalisation has seen the state, business and civil societies demanding and getting an increasingly influential role.
The .co.za subdomain, aimed at commercial registrants, has shown significant growth with more than 196 000 registrations. Other subdomains, while offering differing levels of service, have not grown at such a fast pace.
The key consideration at this initial stage is the structure of .za. The body needs to consider and implement an optimal structure for .za, taking into account the specific needs of the country.
“We expect stakeholders to make submissions to the public discussion document. Arranging or facilitating additional interactions with stakeholders will be considered as the needs arise,” .zaDNA said.
“Once the initial consultative process has been completed, the authority plans to propose the structure and policy model for the .za domain-name space. This proposal will be subjected to public comment before the authority finalises the .za model.”
‘Reach out to all South Africans’
At the launch function, Minister of Communications Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri appealed for the campaign to reach out to all South Africans in language people outside the internet community could relate to, “so that even my granny can understand”.
She remarked that South Africa’s level of internet development will be a criterion for its Millennium Development Goal achievements.
.zaDNA said it intends to bridge the gap between South Africans with and without access to and knowledge of technology.
While no specific deadline has been set for input, .zaDNA chairperson Hasmukh Gajjar said he expects submissions to come in from Monday afternoon to about November and December. — I-Net Bridge, Sapa
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