I simply cannot let this one go past to the keeper...

I've still got 4 outstanding questions addresses to Melbourne IT - I
note the slicence has been impressive but hardly illuminating.

Before I respond to this let me make one very simple point.

Trust cannot be purchased, nor can trust be instilled by
administrative fiat. Trust is the result of being open with those you
deal with.  For as long as Melbourne IT operates com.au exclusively,
and while it does so in a way which admits no public disclosure of the
fate of the funds collected via this activity, then trust is a very
scant resource which I don't see much evidence of, nor do I have high
expectation thereof.

But what I wanted to do was respond to Andrew's message regarding the
AUNIC statment in the responses AUNIC generates - the AUNIC services
ARE PROVIDED FREE OF END USER CHARGE.  The fact that we have managed
to do this to date in spite of massive increase in transaction levels
is a result of the committed support of Telstra and a dedicated effort
of myself and Paul at the AUNIC to automate as much as possible while
maintaining the integrity of the registration service. I think it
quite reasonable that we inform clients of the registry service that
we can continue to provide this service without charge to them.

Indeed I do not see it as an "unfortunate misunderstanding" that we
are undertaking our public contribution to the administrative
infrastructure of the Internet here in Australia by operating this
service. Quite the reverse. And I believe we are entitled to inform
the clients of this registry service that this is a service which is
operated without charge to them.

Thanks,

 Geoff Huston
 Technical Manager
 Telstra Internet



> 
> On Tue, 19 Nov 1996, Scott Howard wrote:
> 
> > Did the reply received after registering the domain (both the one from the
> > web page and the one in email) have on the bottom of it :
> > 
> > There is no charge for this registration service.
> > Thank you
> > 
> This is a message on the AUNIC forms, and refers to the AUNIC 
> registration services which are provided free of charge.
> 
> That being said, this statement has now been removed (or has been asked to 
> be removed) from the current forms to prevent this unfortunate 
> misunderstanding from now on...
> 
> Andrew Heath
> System and Network Manager
> drew§MelbourneIT.com.au
> Phone: 9344 9306
> 
> 
>