On 23 Sep 2002 at 0:01, Mark Hughes wrote:

> I think the minimum two week period between the domain ceasing working and
> its actual availability to anyone else to register is a reasonable
> compromise.  It may be a tad difficult to put a convincing argument that a
> domain name in active use by the Registrant would be non-operational for 14
> days and they wouldn't notice it.

That is besides the point. Sites should not be taken down without warning especially 
until the "new system"  has been in force for a couple of years and all registrants know 
the rules.

In the current case the renewal will not happen until after the first readers of the adverts 
are going to try to access the site. Then it is going to take a while for the zone files to 
update or at least for all ISPs to catch up. It's a service industry we are in - the 
providers of the service shouldn't be acting like a bunch of public servants.

cb