Sean, SD> Historically, the only wide-spread failures have been due to NSI operators SD> screwing up the COM or NET zone files. Historically, the other network SD> operators have needed to pick up the load when NSI fell down. SD> NSI controls two root servers. Perhaps its time to split those up among SD> different organizations. There is no reason why NSI must operate any SD> root name severs. NSI moved all the COM and NET zones to seperate GTLD SD> servers controlled SOLELY by NSI years ago. Hmmm. Let's see. Verisign spreads its public relations message aggressively among the media, and those countering their errors talk on nanog, or equivalent. In case no one has noticed, Versign has been quite successful in getting the media to cast the issues (eg., "prevention of innovation") in terms that Verisign is promoting. Discussion on nanog might feel good, but it does not affect the public relations campaign that Verisign is conducting. d/ -- Dave Crocker <dcrocker-at-brandenburg-dot-com> Brandenburg InternetWorking <www.brandenburg.com> Sunnyvale, CA USA <tel:+1.408.246.8253>