[NA-Discuss] Proposal for North American Indigenous TLD

[Evan Leibovitch]

Danny Younger wrote:
> Some in the NARALO may wish to assist in this effort.  The primary obstacle, of course, will be the cost of the ticket to the ICANN Ball.
>   
Not to mention the long-term practicality of the effort given the number
of actual domains that would benefit.

I have fresh in my mind the most recent high-profile example of native
groups (or, more appropriately, non-native taxpayers) paying for the
Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (http://www.aptn.ca). On that
network we get to see aboriginally-relevant programs such as "Street
Legal" (set in a downtown Toronto law office) and great
aboriginal-culture films such as "The Green Mile" and "Fargo".

(I know I'm citing extreme examples and APTN does create relevant
programming. I wouldn't be nearly so bothered if I wasn't _forced_ to
pay for it, Canadian cable and dish customers cannot opt out... so
forgive my lack of enthusiasm for another effort that I may end up
having to pay for against my will.)

While the "cost of the ticket" may be overinflated, it does require
applicants to have at least some semblance of an economic rationale.
Collective pride _in itself_ cannot be sufficient justification for a
TLD -- if it is (in this case), you and I will end up paying for it
somehow if there is no independent and sustainable business case.

(As a matter of consistency, I expressed the same concern about .nyc --
except that in that instance there's less chance of taxpayer bailout or
subsidy.)

I wouldn't stand in the way of such an effort, but I will certainly
resist any demands or preconditions that non-natives must help fund it.

- Evan