cctld.ch (part 1) workshop on internet governance at the national level

ccTLD .ch (part 1)

Workshop on Internet Governance at the national level

19 July 2005 ccTLD .ch 2

Major milestones

HistoryPublic policy issues CH solution Experience

Information on the web

22.10.1987 Creation of the SWITCH foundation

1.4.1992 Creation of OFCOM (Swiss telecom NRA)

1.1.1998 Telecommunications law

1.4.2002 Governmental decree

29.1.2003 Formal delegation

1.3.2004 Introduction of IDNs under .ch


Why a formal delegation?• Increasing importance of Internet domain names for the

economy (e-commerce, etc.)• Need for more legal and economic security for all actors,

inclusive the registry• Quick intervention possibility in case of failure• Monopoly (.ch) / competition aspects / price• Need for a dispute resolution process• Stability (national and international aspects)• « .ch » domain names = addressing elements according to the

Swiss telecommunication law (formal argument)

History of .chPublic policy issues CH solution Experience



Modell• The registry (SWITCH) provides also the domain

names registration service• Obligation concerning an offer for resellers• Registry / registrar model was publicly discussed

and abandoned• Public consultation process• International relations

– Collaboration between OFCOM and SWITCH– OFCOM represents the Swiss Government in GAC, IIG,

HLIG, etc.– SWITCH participating in organisations like CENTR, ICANN,

etc.




Rules for the delegation

• Telecommunications Act (30.4.1997 / 1.1.1998)• Governmental decree on addressing elements• Technical & administrative prescriptions• Contract between OFCOM and Switch (5 years)




Telecommunications Act

Chapter 4 Addressing Resources

• Art. 28 Management and assignment1. OFCOM is responsible for the management of the addressing

resources … 2. In particular cases, OFCOM may delegate this task to third

parties… The Swiss government defines the details, in particular the way how OFCOM has to monitor how the delegated task is performed

3. …4. …




Governmental decree (1)

• Art. 13 ss General delegation rules• Delegation procedure, form, and duration• Supervision by OFCOM• Information obligations• Termination of delegated activity• Data protection• Etc.




Governmental decree (2)

• Art. 14 ss Specific regulation on «.ch»• Designation of the Registry / Contract• Tasks and obligations of the Registry• Approval (general conditions, prices, dispute resolution, etc…) by

OFCOM• International relations• General principles governing the management and registration of .ch

domain names• Dispute resolution process• Whois• Etc.




Experience with the new situation

• Stability / no negative impact on the Internet Community

• Process of building trust• Fast modification of the regulation was possible in

order to introduce IDNs• Price approval process• Win-Win situation






Telecommunications lawf: http://www.admin.ch/ch/f/rs/7/784.10.fr.pdf

d: http://www.admin.ch/ch/d/sr/7/784.10.de.pdf

i: http://www.admin.ch/ch/i/rs/7/784.10.it.pdf

Governmental decreef: http://www.admin.ch/ch/f/rs/7/784.104.fr.pdfd: http://www.admin.ch/ch/d/sr/7/784.104.de.pdfi: http://www.admin.ch/ch/i/rs/7/784.104.it.pdf

OFCOM detailed regulation f: http://www.ofcom.ch/fr/telekommunikation/grundlagen/technik/artikel/00809/index.htmld: http://www.ofcom.ch/de/telekommunikation/grundlagen/technik/artikel/00809/index.htmli: http://www.ofcom.ch/it/telekommunikation/grundlagen/technik/artikel/00809/index.html

cctld.ch (part 1) workshop on internet governance at the national level

Documents