Dot-eu consultation to shun industry input

At a meeting in Brussels yesterday, industry representatives were angered to find only one hour had been set aside to discuss the creation of the new European domain, adding to growing concerns over the consultation process.

Stephen Dyer, chairman of UK registrar CentralNic, believes the Commission is going back on its word to include industry representatives in the process. "We need to see a statement on transparency," he said. "This needs to be an open process."

A report from the European Community Panel of Participants (EC-POP) steering group in October concluded that an advisory panel should be set up to help politicians and civil servants run the domain. The Commission has so far refused to comment on the idea.

"They need to have representatives who have actually run a central registry before," claimed Dyer. "It's a complicated business."

Last month, the EC released draft legislation to give it the legal power to appoint a suitable company or registry to manage the domain and establish the public policy framework within which it will function. The legislation conspicuously omits any mention of an advisory board.

Dr Willie Black, MD of Nominet, the registry which manages the dot-uk domain, agreed the EC should not try to go it alone. "We're happy to give them advice, but the Commission tends to call meetings at short notice," he explained. "Quite often they've been told things and ignored them."

The Commission - and the registry company it appoints - face a raft of problems in setting up the domain. Already questions have been raised over what geographical area it will cover, how much it will cost, what languages it will incorporate and who will be able to apply.

According to Black, the EC needs to make a firm decision to take advice from the industry or to cut them out completely. "The Commission feels obliged to consult - but its difficult on a Europe-wide basis," he said.

The European Commission was unavailable for comment.