[DDN] Which (domain) registrar would you choose and why? Shouldnt we have one reflective of our values?

[Michael Maranda]

Following is a blog entry I did on DDN.  I have a related blog entry here:
http://wrythings.net/2007/05/12/how-about-a-non-profit-domain-registrar-for-org/where
I suggest an NPO take that role.

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Non-profits (and many other unincorporated voluntary assemblages) are here
to make change - we're part of a movement for empowerment and quality of
life. We are attentive to the character of our work and the character of the
field we work in, and these are reflective of our deep concern for how we
should live and work together in the world.

We look for partners that share our values, and more and more we ask
questions that suggest we like to mean what we pay (as they say at
www.grasscommons.org).

Now, I have had it in my mind for some time that the Non-profit/Voluntary
sector - those who would prefer the .ORG top level domain (TLD) as their
brand of choice, for the values it connotes - deserve the option of a domain
registrar that shares their values, and would work to the community
interest, and not exclusively to narrow business interests.

Would we pay a little more for such service? Man of us probably would. And
so would others even if they weren't seeking a .org! Which is to say, there
would be potential in serving the domain registration needs in other TLDs.

I view this as part of a differentiation of roles within the network of
those working for the public good. There is a logic for entities providing
services to non-profits to take on this role on purely
business/organizational strategy grounds. As other domain registrars make
money by upselling to other services (and frequently sell domains at tight
margins and perhaps occasionally as loss-leader) the non-profit technical
assistance provider or support entity can reap benefits by upselling to
other services - even if the "sale" does not involve a monetary exchange.
We're mission driven and not money driven.

If you need to bring your services to non-profits and grassroots groups,
help them by (helping them) managing the domain process in an ethical way.
Give them someone they can trust to look out for their interest in serving
the public interest.

Who can take on this role?

If no present entity can or will - can't we as a community do this
ourselves?