Charging for allocations

  > poole at eunet.ch writes:
  > 
  > The current German solution seems to be very good and would seem 
  > to avoid the obvious conflict of interest issues that immediately
  > arise if non-neutral organisations provide these services.

Just to explain for those who do not know:

In Germany the major Internet service providers got together (in spite
of serious historical antagonism I might add) and formed a consortium
which funds and supervises the DE-NIC.  DE-NIC offers both DNS and
address registration services.  This is paid and controlled by the
members of the consortium who in turn pay it from the revenue from their
customers.  Providing service to not connected organisations is seen
as an investment in future customers.  I do not know how the consortium
deals with new service providers which are not yet a paying member. 
But I guess they will suggest they become a member.

The operation of the DE-NIC was awarded to the comp centre at Karlsruhe
University after a public call for tender by the consortium.

As long as DE-NIC serves everyone in Germany I consider this is an 
excellent way to solve the problem.

Daniel