RFC6761 is now closed
draft-michaelson-dnsop-rfc6761-is-closed-01

Abstract

In hindsight, RFC6761 was a mistake. This document formally closes this process.

Status of This Memo

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This Internet-Draft will expire on August 25, 2016.

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Table of Contents

• 1. Introduction
• 1.1. Requirements Language
• 2. Acknowledgements
• 3. IANA Considerations
• 4. Security Considerations
• 5. References
• 5.1. Normative References
• 5.2. Informative References
• Author's Address

1. Introduction

RFC 6761 [RFC6761] specified mechanisms for reserving a top level name in the DNS.

This reversed a prior decision documented by RFC 2860 [RFC2860] to close off mechanisms for name assignment in the IETF, the function being recognized as vesting with ICANN.

There is explicit language in RFC2860 which reserved a technical function role in domain names:

• 4.3. Two particular assigned spaces present policy issues in addition to the technical considerations specified by the IETF: the assignment of domain names, and the assignment of IP address blocks. These policy issues are outside the scope of this MOU.
• Note that (a) assignments of domain names for technical uses (such as domain names for inverse DNS lookup), (b) assignments of specialised address blocks (such as multicast or anycast blocks), and (c) experimental assignments are not considered to be policy issues, and shall remain subject to the provisions of this Section 4.

In hindsight, re-opening a registry for special cases of technical merit inside IETF process has turned out to be a mistake, and introduces procedural issues which cannot be adequately addressed solely inside a technical process, instead instantiating mechanisms which bypass ICANN process.

The apparent absence of an appropriate technology driven admission process inside ICANN methods to assign top level domain names is regrettable, but the solution does not lie in vesting the IETF with an admissions process. This has invited (and led to) domain squatting, spurious technical arguments, and has destroyed any functional vision of an architecture, replacing it with unrelated competing requests for more and more names. This is simply not appropriate use of the IETF process.

Accordingly, this document formally closes the RFC6761 process. No more requests will be entertained in this process and all existing names are grandfathered in, but will be relinquished gracefully should the technical requirement be demonstrated not to apply any more at scale.

1.1. Requirements Language

The key words "MUST", "MUST NOT", "REQUIRED", "SHALL", "SHALL NOT", "SHOULD", "SHOULD NOT", "RECOMMENDED", "MAY", and "OPTIONAL" in this document are to be interpreted as described in RFC 2119 [RFC2119].

2. Acknowledgements

This document was written hurredly. But the intent should be clear.

3. IANA Considerations

The IANA is directed to close the Special Use Domain Name registry, and MUST NOT admit any further entries in this registry.

4. Security Considerations

No new security considerations are introduced by this document. All existing security considerations from prior names in the special-use names registry are assumed to continue to exist.

5. References

5.1. Normative References

5.2. Informative References

Author's Address