.Net.uk domain granted stay of execution

09/12/2002 

The underused .net.uk domain has been granted a stay of execution after a meeting of Nominet's Policy Advisory Board decided that still more consultation was needed before a decision on its future was taken. 

The decision comes after a sub-committee charged with looking at the issue recommended it be closed off to new entrants and slowly wound down. This was thrown out by the PAB in October and reiterated a second time in a meeting on 4 December, leading some to believe the issue is being downplayed in an effort to avoid confrontation. 

The head of the sub-committee, Clive Feather, has so far not responded our requests for comment and the head of the PAB, Peter Gradwell, refused to talk about it prior to the publication of the PAB's December meeting minutes - expected in a week's time. 

However, we understand that Nominet is hoping that the controversial nature of the domain's future will be tempered in what looks set to become a long, drawn-out consultation period. 

Mr Gradwell pointed us to the PAB's October statement on .net.uk as indicative of its current stance and said that Nominet is going to "take time to do it properly". It reads: "The PAB considered the net.uk subcommittee's report and noted the large volume of feedback urging that the subcommittee reconsider its conclusions. The PAB felt unsure as to whether the domain's rules could be appropriately altered to resolve the stated issues. 

Details at: http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/6/28473.html