Is this operational or dross?
Both, but mainly it's a one page press release from the Dep't of Commerce: http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/domainname/USDNSprinciples_06302005.htm ICANN exists because of a DOC contact which you can find at http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/domainname/ ICANN's leadership has long claimed and probably believed that the DOC would eventually cut them free. Of course other governments have never been thrilled that the root belongs to the US Gov't, but treatment of country domains has in practice carefully avoided antagonizing governments, dating back to the Haiti redelegation in the Postel era. The DOC is merely saying "don't hold your breath." Given ICANN's less than stellar record, nobody should be surprised. Regards, John Levine, johnl@iecc.com, Primary Perpetrator of "The Internet for Dummies", Information Superhighwayman wanna-be, http://www.johnlevine.com, Mayor "More Wiener schnitzel, please", said Tom, revealingly. PS: Anyone else going to Luxmbourg next week?