As I have written previously, it was a great disappointment to many members that auDA could not ensure that the webinar at the Special General Meeting (SGM) on 31st August was of a better standard. You’d think that the technology would have been tested first – and that there were more microphones and better sound quality. I hope auDA asked for a refund! In fact, this point was picked up in an excellent overall article about the SGM by Myriam Robin of the Australian Financial Review.
That being said, here are two audio clips that stood out for me. Apologies for sound quality.
The first is Brett Fenton making an excellent summation of the summation. “Buzzwords and fluff”. Plus some great questions. For those that don’t know Brett, he’s been in our industry since Adam was a boy. He is currently Chief Technology Officer at Melbourne IT Group. Not only is he knowledgeable, but he would have to be one of the “straightest shooters” I have ever met. So when he speaks, it’s worth listening to.
Have a listen to “the spin” by Erhan Karabardak.
The second clip is Adrian Kinderis. Most people know him as the boss of AusRegistry, however since Neustar acquired Bombora Technologies a couple of years ago, his official title these days is VP Corporate Development, Neustar, Inc.
Yes, he acknowledges he has a vested interest in the future of auDA, but as he quite rightly says, “it doesn’t mean my voice isn’t important”.
Adrian started the questions rolling at the SGM, but this particular segment was a bit further into the meeting. I replay it because Adrian nailed what type of organisation auDA should be.
More summations to follow – in particular, what is quickly becoming the “elephant in the room” – the process of selection and appointment of Dr Michaella Richards as a replacement “Demand Class Director” for Miguel Wood last year. No one – least of all me – is casting any doubts on her integrity and character. She would probably make an excellent “Independent Director”. However, members just want to know how and why she was appointed when she had little or no “Demand Class” experience?
What do you think about any of the above?
Ned O’Meara – 7th August 2017
Disclaimer
From the meeting AUDA seemed to have no explanation at all as to why she was appointed, what made her an appropriate demand class director.
AUDA did you see a scientist as the type of person domainers and small business owners would want on the board?
Typically, Demand class directors require a type of ‘intimacy’ within the domain industry which allows that director to keep in touch with its sentiment and raise any demand class issues to the board. Just speculating, but it’s almost as if that appointment was engineered to accommodate a type of bias in support for a guided quorum.
It is easy to see why some people may be pushing their agenda’s?
Both Ausregistry and Melbourne IT had been on the auDA Board for over 15 years! This seems strange when it comes to potential conflicts of interest, wholesale domain name pricing.
Why are both ( along with auDA) still making such massive profits from the .au domain name registration, renewal and change of registrant costs?
Where exactly is the consumer protection market pricing competition? At least a few resellers have said they will lower their .au pricing if Ausregistry and auDA lower the wholesale .au price.. but why not action from Ausregistry, Melbourne IT, auDA, auDA Board?
https://www.auda.org.au/news/auda-extends-ausregistrys-au-registry-term-to-2014/
https://www.ausregistry.com.au/auda-extends-ausregistrys-au-registry-term-to-2014/
“The major points of the renegotiated Licence Agreement include:
extended Customer Support Hours for Registrars
funding towards Marketing and Market Research
a $0.25 donation to the auDA Foundation for every .com.au and .net.au domain renewal and new registration
the implementation of DNSSEC
commitment to yearly independent Security Audits
continued improvement and enhancement of the Registry Software
new pricing that sees a drop in AusRegistry’s wholesale price to $14 (for a 2 year licence) for .com.au and .net.au domains and further drops as volumes increase.”
Pricing; https://www.dntrade.com.au/content/domain-registrars/
Brett Fenton – Melbourne IT $$$. The largest and most expensive Domain name registrar in Australia. They once had the monopoly all to themselves for .au registrations.
They have been pushing for another competing .au extension so they can make more money.
Adrian Kinderis – Ausregistry $$$ https://www.crn.com.au/news/118m-payday-for-melbourne-domain-name-firm-407350
http://www.afr.com/technology/theres-still-dough-in-domain-names-as-melbournes-bombora-technologies-sold-for-1185-million-20150731-k9zvg
They have been pushing for another competing .au extension so they can make more money.
Sean, get off your bandwagon and actually listen to the audio. It’s to do with something totally different. I have great respect for Brett Fenton (as do many on both sides of the fence).
For the first time ever, the recent crap that’s been going on at auDA united both Supply and Demand classes. Together we achieved results. Let’s be grateful for that.
Save your other battles for a different thread.
auDA have just sent members an email about Michaela.
They must have the perception that we think her appointment was sus.
I wonder who the demand members they claim to have “approached” were.
Unbelievable.
Even though I’m tired and grumpy, and off to hospital for 6 hours tomorrow, I cranked out an article tonight!
http://www.domainer.com.au/auda-you-havent-learnt-a-thing/