Sections D1-D11
i General Information
Full Legal Name: JVTeam, LLC
Principal Address: 1120 Vermont Ave., NW
Washington DC 20005
Phone: 202 533 2600
Fax: 202 533 2975
Email: TBD
All Other Business Locations: * See Registry Operator’s Proposal Section II.1.3, Past Business Operations, Entity History
Type of Business Entity: Limited Liability Company organized under laws of State of Delaware, USA.
URL: TBD
Dun & Bradstreet Number: None
Number of Employees: See
Registry Operator’s Proposal Section II.1.6, Management and Section
II.1.7, Staff/Employees
Total Revenue in last-ended fiscal year:
None
Full Names and Positions of:
All Directors See Registry Operator’s Proposal Section II.1.6, Management
All Officers See Registry Operator’s Proposal Section II.1.6, Management
All Relevant Managers See Registry Operator’s Proposal Section II.1.6, Management
Point of Contact: Ken.hansen@neustar.com
* JVTeam is a newly formed, limited liability company created to function as a registry. Therefore, it is necessary to look to the history of our parent companies, which are fully committed to the success of JVTeam and it’s objectives. A detailed description of NeuStar, Inc. and Melbourne IT is provided in Section II.1.3 of this document.
Answers to questions posed in Registry Operator’s Proposal Sections I.1 through I.11 are provided for both parent companies.
D2 – D11 — NeuStar, Inc.
Principal Address: NeuStar, Inc.
1120 Vermont Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: 202 533 2600
Fax: 202 533 2970
All Other Business Locations: NeuStar, Inc.
200 South Wacker Drive
Suite #3400
Chicago, IL 60606
312 928 4500
NeuStar, Inc.
1800 Sutter Street
Suite #570
Concord, CA 94520
925 363 8700
NeuStar, Inc.
1001 Fourth Avenue
Suite #3200
Seattle, WA 98154
206 262 4680
NeuStar UK
Marble Arch Tower
7th Floor
55 Bryarston Street
London, WIH7AJ
England
+44 020 7868 8581
Type of
Business Entity: Corporation
organized under laws of the State of
Delaware, USA
URL: www.NeuStar.com
Dun & Bradstreet Number: 11-240-3295
Number of Employees: 192
Total Revenue in last-ended fiscal year:
NeuStar is currently preparing audited financial statements for 1999 and the first half of 2000. NeuStar will provide this additional information to ICANN within 30 days of this submission.
Full Names and Positions of:
All Directors Jeffrey E. Ganek; Joseph P. Landry; Dr. Henry Kressel; Dr. Kenneth Pickar; Henry Geller
All Officers and Relevant Managers Jeffrey E. Ganek, Chairman and CEO
Robert Dowski, VP, Chief Financial Officer
Edward G. Freitag, General Counsel
Joseph Franlin, VP and Chief Operating Officer
Mark Foster, VP and Chief Technology Officer
Steven Cory, VP Customer Care
Christine Walker, VP Business Development
Brad Baxter, VP Business Development Technical Ops
Robert Poulin, VP Corporate Development
Jerome Haynesworth, VP, HR and Administration
Matt Wald, VP, IP Services
Martin Lowen, VP Law and Business Development
Gregory Roberts, VP Number Services
Jay Darling, VP Operations Europe
Point of Contact: Ken Hansen
1120 Vermont Avenue, N.W., Suite 550
Washington, DC 20005
202 533 2685
Email: ken.hansen@neustar.com
D2 – D11 — Melbourne IT Ltd.
Principal Address: Level 2
120 King Street
Melbourne
Victoria, Australia, 3000
Phone: +61 3 8624 2400
Fax: +61 3 8624 2499
All Other Business Locations: INWW (a division of Melbourne IT) – Virginia, USA
8201 Greensboro Drive
Suite 1000
McLean, VA 22102
Phone: 703 394 8050
Fax: 703 394 8009
INWW (a division of Melbourne IT) – California, USA
1300 Clay Street
Suite 600
Oakland, CA 94611
Phone: 510 464 8074
Fax: 510 464 8079
INWW (a division of Melbourne IT) – Madrid, Spain
C/o Jorge Juan 8
3o A
28001 Madrid Spain
Telephone: +34 913 192 730
Fax: +34 913 195 629
Type of Business Entity: Melbourne IT is incorporated in Australia as a public company limited by shares.
URL: Melbourne IT – http://www.melbourneit.com.au
INWW
(a division of Melbourne IT)
– http://www.inwww.com
Dun & Bradstreet Number: 74-450-7200
Number of Employees: 176
Total Revenue in last-ended fiscal year:
AU$14.8m in 1999 (AU$23m for the first half of 2000).
Using an exchange rate of 1.79, that is approximately US$8.27m in 1999
(approximately US$12.85m for the first half of 2000).
Full Names and Positions of:
All Directors Rob Stewart, Chairman
Dr. Colin Adam, Non-Executive Director
Professor Iain Morrison, Non-Executive Director
Dr. Stephen Gumley, Non-Executive Director
Kevin Courtney, Non-Executive Director
All Officers and Relevant Managers Adrian Kloeden, Chief Executive and
Operating Officer
Richard Tindal, Vice President, International Operations
Clive Flory, President, Internet Names WorldWide
Dr. Bruce Tonkin, Chief Technology Officer
Guye Engel, General Manager, Production and Development
Steve Mutabazi, Chief Marketing Officer and General Manager, New Products
Andrew Field, Chief Financial Officer, Company Secretary
Point of Contact: Richard Tindal
8201 Greensboro Drive, Suite 1000
McLean VA 22102
703 394 8050
Email: richard@inww.com
|
HIGHLIGHTS u JVTeam has the proven capacity, experience, and integrity to responsibly manage a critical public resource u JVTeam will make a significant, responsible contribution to the evolutionary development of the DNS u JVTeam founded its business operations on principles of integrity and neutrality u Collaboration, loyalty, and sheer persistence drive our collective success u JVTeam brings a comprehensive pedigree to the development of Internet-related software and database applications to the registry operations |
Section D13
ii Business Capabilities and Plan
The NeuStar/Melbourne IT Joint Venture (henceforth the JVTeam) has the requisite and proven capability, experience, and integrity to meet and exceed the responsibilities and requirements posed by ICANN in its request for a registry for new TLD services to ensure the registry is an incontrovertible success
The domain name system is more complex than most people realize. Although the Internet has grown exponentially over recent years, the growth of the domain name system it relies upon has been hampered by conflicting interests, standards, and opinions which threaten to endanger its future stability and utility. For competition to be introduced successfully at the registry level, the selected registry operator must have a proven ability to function efficiently in this complex environment and facilitate the controlled, systematic evolution of the DNS. The domain name system is unique; only a handful of organizations in the world specialize in its operation. Historically, the domain name registry business has not been a competitive one; few registries have successfully provided domain name services in a manner perceived by consumers to be fair and even-handed. In many cases this is simply a lack of experience and a failure to understand the technical, operational, and policy issues required by the administrators of a domain space.
To be successful, a new TLD registry must incorporate a comprehensive understanding of domain names and their administration. Simply allowing for the establishment of a database record is not enough; it also must address the long term management issues associated with servicing domain names throughout their entire life cycle. These include registrar transfers, renewals, cancellations, policy changes, and all the other administrative issues associated with domain name management. In addition, to meet previously unmet needs, a registry must be able to design, build, and administer a robust database, requiring extensive software development and infrastructure management capacity that is accessible by multiple, external organizations. A registry is not merely a records repository; it must ensure the security of personal contact data and license holder information, provide the facility for that data to be accessed by multiple customers in real-time, ensure that access to the data is not hampered by system outages or unnecessary downtime, and be capable of maintaining the physical infrastructure to support all of its operations. In addition, the registry operator must be capable of designing and building a database that can scale seamlessly in response to the exponential growth of the Internet. JVTeam is that registry.
JVTeam offers an intimate understanding of the DNS environment combined with a proven record of registry operations that will ensure the stability of the Internet by providing a reliable, robust, and scalable infrastructure. JVTeam has a demonstrated history of developing and maintaining complex databases, designing software solutions, and providing effective management and policy implementation for equitable administration of critical public resources. More importantly, JVTeam understands that to maximize global acceptance and participation, the TLD registry must be administered with integrity. In order to cultivate a truly competitive registrar environment, the TLD registry must assume the role of responsibly managing the public resource entrusted to its care. It must do so by demonstrating that it can operate in an entirely impartial manner as a trusted third party. JVTeam founded its business operations on integrity and neutrality. Our viability as a company and our reputation is dependent on our neutrality.
JVTeam will leverage its experience and reputation as a trusted third party to ensure that the introduction of new TLDs is an unquestioned success. We have the credentials, experience, and resources necessary to deliver in accordance with the stated objectives of ICANN. As described in this document, our strong business and marketing plans will facilitate the broad market acceptance and promotion of diversity in the new TLD namespace, and substantiate JVTeam’s corporate commitment to ensuring the successful introduction and ongoing operation of the new TLD registry.
|
HIGHLIGHTS u JVTeam provides a level of skill and experience in registry operations that cannot be matched u JVTeam’s extensive DNS experience will ensure a stable and secure zone file distribution process which will enhance the stability of the Internet u Our rich history in database design and maintenance guarantees the security, privacy and accuracy of registration data u JVTeam’s resolute commitment to neutrality will ensure fairness and evenhandedness in the provision of registry services |
SECTION D13.1
ii.1 Overview
of Registry Operator’s Capabilities
The JVTeam Story
JVTeam brings to the domain name market the combined capabilities of NeuStar and Melbourne IT in order to provide the next generation domain name registry through technological innovation and proven channel management expertise by delivering the world’s most advanced domain name services on a trusted third party basis.
The Beginning
When ICANN announced its intention to initiate a formal process to introduce new top level domains (TLDs), both Melbourne IT and NeuStar saw a unique opportunity perfectly aligned with their individual business goals. Independently, each company saw itself as a strong competitor. Melbourne IT is a trusted provider of registry and registrar domain name services and operates a shared registry system to aggregate resellers’ requests and interface to the existing registry system. NeuStar is a trusted third party provider of critical clearinghouse services that enable communications networks to interoperate.
Similarities in experience and principles were identified and discussed in depth. Neutrality is a major focus of both companies and they are committed to impartiality and fairness. Both recognize the importance of understanding and working successfully within regulatory environments. Both companies have registry experience but in different arenas. Each is committed to developing and cultivating long term relationships with clients. Both are focused on technological innovation and quality service. Both see the Internet as a truly international public resource. In addition to the similarities, complimentary experience was also considered. Melbourne IT is a recognized industry leader in domain name channel management, and NeuStar is a recognized industry leader in shared registry and data center operations.
Through the course of these discussions it became apparent to both companies that while each was a strong competitor independently, together they could combine their respective talents and resources to serve the Internet community’s need for a stable, experienced registry. As shown in Exhibit II.1-1 it was this mutual recognition of overlapping core competencies and complementary skills, combined with a desire to make a significant contribution to the Internet that was the genesis of JVTeam.
Team Formation—A Team for Success
In reviewing the evaluation criteria presented by ICANN, Melbourne IT and NeuStar agreed that to address the issues raised in the RFP and comply with the spirit of the request, the successful introduction of new TLDs requires the following:
· A reputation as a trusted, neutral third party administrator to promote fair and evenhanded competition among registrars
· Geographical diversity of operations to support a global enterprise
· Proven registry development and operations experience to ensure the highest levels of quality service to customers
· Proven, evenhanded policy administration expertise
· Technological innovation to provide high quality service and new features and functionality
· Proven channel management expertise to facilitate early and streamlined adoption by the registrar community
They further agreed that a successful registry operator committed to increasing competition in the Internet must:
· Understand the Internet environment
· Build on the strength of its DNS experience
· Have substantial database and distributed network experience
· Have proven credentials in managing a significant public database
· Operate the registry with integrity in a consistent, equitable, and neutral manner
· Develop policy guidelines and long-term solutions for secure management of vital public resources
In addition, Melbourne IT and NeuStar recognized they shared a philosophy which incorporated a commitment to competition with a vision of the Internet as a global resource readily available to individuals as well as organizations. As these issues continued to be discussed, the two companies realized their vision must become a reality. Together they would be a formidable team committed to the responsible, evolutionary development of the DNS. They formed JVTeam.
JVTeam Overview and Structure
JVTeam is a Limited Liability Company (LLC) formed by Melbourne IT, a public Australian company, and NeuStar, a United States corporation. JVTeam combines the capabilities, experience, and resources of these two outstanding organizations to ensure the stability of the Internet by providing a new generation of registry services that will provide high quality service as well as new features and functionality beneficial to the end user. JVTeam has the full corporate support and financial backing of both Melbourne IT and NeuStar to successfully support the needs of the Internet industry.
JVTeam will be managed by its own set of officers, and will assume all responsibilities and contractual obligations for the registry services outlined in this proposal. In this regard we will:
· Design, build, and/or customize all registry system components
· Establish and manage the network infrastructure required
· Deliver all registry services
· Provide all support services: billing, customer support, etc.
· Provide overall quality assurance
JVTeam is managed and staffed by experienced, dedicated individuals from within the industry who are keenly aware of the sensitivities and needs of the industry including:
· Experienced, neutral, and evenhanded third party administration
· Consistent service and stable systems that are extremely reliable and secure
· Sensitivity to the demands, timetables, and ever-changing landscape of the evolving Internet environment
· Subject matter expertise and experience in key technologies
· Commitment to the ongoing cooperative development of a first-of-its-kind industry capability through a fully open, non-proprietary environment
· Awareness of the need for flexible, scalable management and technical operations
Neutrality in a Competitive Environment
Neutrality for us is not a platitude; it is our identity, conveying impeccable, high-quality, evenhanded service essential to the central role we will play in the industry. We will process extremely sensitive and proprietary data to the highest security and confidentiality standards. We will not provide registrar services in competition with our customers. JVTeam is committed to the promotion of competition at the registry level and its goal is the equitable treatment of all registrars. Our previous experience as a registrar provides us the registrar perspective: We understand their needs, concerns, and issues. This understanding clarifies our responsibility to act in strict adherence to the principles of a neutral third party. All of our services will be available to all registrars on non-discriminatory terms. Neutrality is a belief we embrace and have embodied in the JVTeam Code of Conduct we have developed and by which we will abide.
JVTeam intends to maximize our strengths, and leverage our marketing power, database skills, and investment to pursue DNS related opportunities. We are committed to the long-term viability of this company, and the domain name registry business. We plan to deliver quality registry operations in the most cost-effective and equitable fashion possible. And we plan to succeed.
SECTION D13.1.1
II.1.1. COMPANY INFORMATION
JVTeam, L.L.C.
Date of Formation: September 21, 2000
Legal Status: Limited Liability Company
Established in the State of Delaware, USA
Primary Location: 1120 Vermont Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20005
USA
Size of Staff: *See Registry Operator’s Proposal Section II.1.7
Formal Alliances: *See Registry Operator’s Proposal Section II.1.3
References: *See Registry Operator’s Proposal Section II.1.3
Corporate or Other Structure: Limited Liability Company
Ownership Structure: 55% owned by NeuStar, Inc.
45% owned by Melbourne IT Ltd. Pty.
*As explained in the preceding section, JVTeam is a limited liability company created to function as a registry. Therefore, to obtain formal alliance and reference information, it is necessary to look to the history of our parent companies which is described in detail in Section II.1.3 of this document.
CERTIFICATES & AGREEMENTS
Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Formation
of
NEUDOMAIN LLC
It is hereby certified that:
1. The name of the limited liability company (hereinafter called the "limited liability company") is NeuDomain LLC.
2. The certificate of formation of the limited liability company is hereby amended by striking out Article First thereof and substituting in lieu of said Article the following new Article:
"FIRST: The name of the limited liability company (hereinafter called the "limited liability company") is JVTeam LLC."
Executed on September 29, 2000.
Edward Freitag
Name: Edward Freitag
Title: Authorized Person
CERTIFICATES & AGREEMENTS
CERTIFICATE OF FORMATION
OF
NEUDOMAIN LLC
The undersigned, an authorized natural person, for the purpose of forming a limited liability company, under the provisions and subject to the requirements of the State of Delaware (particularly Chapter 18, Title 6 of the Delaware Code and the acts amendatory thereof and supplemental thereto, and known, identified, and referred to as the "Delaware Limited Liability Company Act"), hereby certifies that:
FIRST: The name of the limited liability company (hereinafter called the "limited liability company") is NeuDomain LLC.
SECOND: The address of the registered office and the name and the address of the registered agent of the limited liability company required to be maintained by Section 18-104 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act are The Corporation Trust Company, Corporaiton Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware 19801.
Executed on September 21, 2000.
Edward Freitag
Name: Edward Freitag
Authorized Person
CERTIFICATES & AGREEMENTS
SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT
Melbourne IT Limited, an Australian corporation, hereby subscribes for forty-five (45) units of membership interest ("Units") of JVTeam LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, (the "Company" at a total purchase price of forty-five dollars ($45.00). Upon receipt of such purchase price, the Company shall issue to Melbourne IT Limited a stock certificate or stock certificates representing such forty-five Units.
Dated: September 29, 2000
MELBOURNE IT LIMITED
By: ___Clive Flory_______________
Name: Clive Flory
Title: General Manager
Accepted and Agreed on this 29th day of September, 2000
JVTEAM, LLC
By: __Edward Freitag__________________
Name: Edward Freitag, Authorized Person
CERTIFICATES & AGREEMENTS
SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT
NeuStar, Inc., a Delaware corporation, hereby subscribes for fifty-five (55) units of membership interest ("Units") of JVTeam LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, (the "Company" at a total purchase price of fifty-five dollars ($55.00). Upon receipt of such purchase price, the Company shall issue to NeuStar, Inc. a stock certificate or stock certificates representing such fifty-five Units.
Dated: September 29, 2000
NEUSTAR, INC.
By: _Robert Poulin_________________
Name: Robert Poulin
Title: Vice President
Accepted and Agreed on this 29th day of September, 2000
JVTEAM, LLC
By: ___Edward Freitag_________________
Name: Edward Freitag, Authorized Person
SECTION D13.1.2
II.1.2 CURRENT BUSINESS OPERATIONS
Services and Products Offered
Because JVTeam was formed for the specific purpose of developing a domain name registry, it is necessary to look to the services and products offered by our parent companies as well as the duration of their provisioning to understand fully, the depth and breadth of our core capabilities. This information can be found in Section II.1.3 of this document.
Core Capabilities
The core capabilities of JVTeam are summarized on the following chart. Our personnel have the experience, skills, and expertise to successfully develop, manage, and maintain a complex database required for TLD registry operations and to effectively create, organize, and implement the comprehensive operations plan necessary to introduce new TLDs into the marketplace successfully.
|
CORE CAPABILITIES |
|
|
Critical Success Factors |
JVTeam Capabilities |
|
Development of a Robust, Full-featured Registry |
· Experience in the design, development, implementation, and operation of .com.au registry · Experience in the design, development, implementation, and operation of NPAC SMS Master Registry |
|
Channel Management Expertise |
· Manages over 250 User Agreements, manages, interfaces with over 4,000 Service Providers · NeuStar’s management of over 700 telcos · Melbourne IT’s management of over 700 channel partners worldwide |
|
Management of vital public resources |
· North American Numbering Plan Administrator providing solutions and working to delay the exhaust of the Numbering Resource for the U.S., Canada, and some Caribbean countries · Management of the com.au domain name space for the commonwealth of Australia |
|
Even-handed policy expertise |
· NeuStar is the only neutrality-certified entity in the world · Melbourne IT’s even-handed policy administration of the com.au space |
|
Unquestioned neutral administration of registry operations |
· JVTeam’s combined experience will build a robust, reliable and fully scalable system that will effectively compete with the current gTLD system |
|
Enhancement of competition for registry services |
· JVTeam will effectively address the current flaws with the TLD registry, thus offering additional functionality to the end user and bringing confidence to the new registry |
Section D13.1.3
II.1.3 Past Business Operations/Entity History
JVTeam fuses the DNS management expertise, registry operations experience, and technical database management capabilities of its parent companies and is dedicated to ensuring the stability of the Internet by providing a new generation of high quality registry services incorporating new features and functions beneficial to the end user.
JVTeam’s vision to make a significant, responsible contribution to global communications by serving as a trusted, neutral Internet domain name registry operator is derived from the high standards and business ethics fundamental to our parent companies. Likewise, JVTeam’s entrepreneurial spirit and the confidence of our skilled, talented workforce in their ability to deliver is an innate part of the culture from which we came. JVTeam’s passionate commitment to integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality while providing high quality products and services to its clients is directly attributable to the values shared by our parent companies—Melbourne IT and NeuStar.
Melbourne IT Ltd.
Date of formation: April 1996
Listed on Australian Stock Exchange on December 14, 1999
Legal Status: Proprietary limited company (Australia)
Primary location: Level 2, 120 King Street
Melbourne, Victoria
Australia 3000
Size of staff: 161
Formal alliances: 1. Verio Inc.
2. Ericsson Australia Pty. Ltd.
3. i-DNS.net International
4. Digital Envoy Inc.
5. eSign
References: Please see Registry Operator’s Proposal Section II.4.2, References
Corporate or other structure: Limited Corporation
Ownership structure: Melbourne IT is incorporated in Australia as a public company limited by shares. Melbourne IT’s largest shareholder is Melbourne Enterprises International Ltd., a Melbourne University Company.
History and Overview
Melbourne IT was founded on a simple yet powerful idea. Melbourne IT is a place where highly skilled, uniquely talented people utilize leading edge technologies to produce innovative, first-of-a-kind technology solutions. Melbourne IT was founded in 1996 as a wholly owned subsidiary of the University of Melbourne. At that time the company’s focus was to commercialize the University’s immense IT and telecommunications expertise. From a humble beginning, this quickly evolved into one of Australia’s most respected and successful information technology companies. This success continued in all areas of operation throughout the late 1990s and in 1999, Melbourne IT became a publicly traded company, expanding its customer and product base on a global scale.
Melbourne IT is a unique technology company that constantly seeks to learn, explore, and improve. It has an established culture of research and knowledge, where staff members are actively encouraged to explore ideas, to experiment with new technologies, and constantly expand the application and usefulness of information technology. Melbourne IT employees are given every opportunity to try new things, to be creative, to make mistakes, to learn and grow. It is a true culture of creativity and innovation.
Melbourne IT has played a leading role in the development of e-commerce in Australia and the Asia Pacific region, participating as a subject matter expert in forums on many of the technology areas in which it currently operates. It has also fostered the development of innovative technologies through an incubator program, providing many young software engineers with an opportunity to turn creative ideas into commercial solutions.
While technological innovation has permeated Melbourne IT’s product development, integrity and responsibility have characterized its ongoing involvement with the global community. Melbourne IT has built its global reputation on the strength of its interaction with customers and the community at large. Melbourne IT has cultivated long-standing, positive relationships with all of its clients, partners, and industry bodies throughout the world. In addition, Melbourne IT has actively participated in the development of standards and policies which serve to institute fairness and openness in the application of information technology. Melbourne IT has developed leading edge products through innovation and creativity and has built a global, successful business on the strength of strong and trusted relationships.
Services and Products
Melbourne IT offers a diverse range of technology products and services which can be broken down into four main categories:
1. Domain name registration, maintenance, and related services and products
2. Advanced telecommunications services and products
3. Incubator program
4. Research and Development.
Domain Name Registration, Maintenance, and Related Services and Products
com.au Domain names—On October 8, 1996 Melbourne IT became the delegated administrator of the com.au domain space. Melbourne IT leveraged its application development, project management, database, and networking experience to produce a domain name registration system that is automated, scalable, and eminently reliable.
Prior to Melbourne IT becoming the administrator of the com.au domain space, fewer than 5,000 com.au domains were registered. Because the space is tightly restricted by the com.au domain allocation policy, every application required manual verification for accuracy and completeness. This resulted in long delays and threatened to hamper the growth of e-commerce in Australia. Melbourne IT developed both front-end and back-end components of an automated registration system and within a very short space of time registrants enjoyed much faster service and a com.au domain name became an integral part of doing business in Australia. Melbourne IT currently processes up to 12,000 applications each month and the space has grown to over 190,000 domain names, making it one of the largest, most highly prized ccTLD spaces in the world. Melbourne IT has continued to innovate by providing the world’s first, live trademark check for new domain name applicants, implementing automated policy validation, and by providing registration services to a network of more than 500 Australian channel partners. All of Australia’s top 500 companies actively promote their com.au address in preference to .com because Melbourne IT has successfully differentiated com.au as a domain space specifically for genuine Australian registered businesses. Australian and international consumers have come to trust com.au as a domain space that has maintained the highest standards of integrity both commercially and technically.
generic Top Level Domains—In April 1999, Melbourne IT was selected to be one of five test-bed registrars for the introduction of competition in the .com, .net, and .org domain spaces. On July 1, 1999, Melbourne IT launched a domain management system called SPIN (System for Processing Internet Names) that is unique in the industry. Unlike the highly manual legacy systems of other vendors, SPIN, the synthesis of four and a half years experience in domain management, is a multi-million dollar software investment engineered to be highly scalable and rapidly adaptable to new naming rules and domain products. SPIN supports multiple interfaces allowing channel partners of many varying technical standards and backgrounds to easily interface to a real-time registration system. Melbourne IT has been a pioneer in the introduction of new TLD features such as 63-character domains, enhanced domain name security, and excellent 24-hour multi-lingual help desk support. It is continually and rapidly customizing the registration platforms to meet the needs of its channel partners.
Advanced Telecommunications Services and Products
Melbourne IT has also played a significant role in the development of advanced telecommunications technologies through The Advanced Services Application Centre (ASAC). ASAC began as an unincorporated joint venture between Melbourne IT and Ericsson Australia. Based in Melbourne, ASAC was established in 1995 to bring together IT and telecommunications competencies to build intelligent network (IN) and mobile data applications.
The following is a summary of some of the achievements of ASAC since 1995:
v Development and Installation of an Infoserver Product—ASAC developed, integrated and supported an Infoserver product known as Smart Message Services (SMS) from concept through to commercial operation in the Telstra network in Australia. The associated applications allow the delivery of personalized information to a GSM subscriber using the SMS facility. The product first went into service in 1996.
v Development and Support of an Enhanced Service Node—ASAC played a leading role in the development and support of the Enhanced Service Node (ESN) platform and the Personal Assistant (PA) application. ASAC was subsequently selected by Ericsson Sweden to build a commercial version of Personal Assistant on an industrialized service node.
v Development and Deployment of an Internet Gateway Platform—ASAC developed an Internet Gateway (ING) product that allows web-based control of network intelligence applications. This product currently supports the operation of a number of Telstra’s IN services.
v Development and Delivery of IN Services to Regional Telephone Companies—ASAC has successfully developed and delivered fully integrated IN and IT applications to Ericsson customers globally and within the Asia Pacific region.
v Joint Development of a Standard Infoserver Product—ASAC has worked with Ericsson Germany to develop the Web-on-Air Infoserver core platform and recently has been responsible for the successful development of the meta-service ‘Channel Studio’ that will allow the development of simple information style services.
Incubator Program
Since 1996, Melbourne IT has operated an Incubator program to support and develop new enterprises seeking to commercially develop information and communication technologies, particularly in relation to e-commerce. The Incubator program seeks to support new enterprises by providing them with access to low cost facilities, mentoring, and business networks.
The initial Incubator program was run over a three-year period, from 1996 to November 1999. Melbourne IT has maintained a continuing relationship with three companies that successfully graduated from the program during this period.
The majority of these incubator businesses are Internet-focused and all are premised on technological innovation and imagination. One program fostered the development of the extremely successful web-tracking tool, FunnelWeb. Another incubator company, Interactive Worldwide, specializes in Multimedia development. The Melbourne IT incubator program also fostered an online education tool that was one of the first software applications to utilize Java based technologies to interface with a database via a web-based client.
Research and Development
Melbourne IT is at the forefront of Internet technologies and maintains constant research and development in a wide range of applications that are complementary to the eCommerce solutions provided to its clients. Working together with the University of Melbourne, Department of Computer Science, and key strategic partners, Melbourne IT is able to maintain and deliver the latest developments in Internet technologies to its clients.
Key areas of research and development include:
· Metadata - XML tools, B2B XML schemas, Intelligent Agents, Intelligent Document Extraction
· Automated Distributed Database Integration
· Automated online registration systems
· eCommerce B2B software applications
· eCommerce fully integrated fulfillment and delivery systems
· Online instructional training management systems
· Interactive online business-to-business communities
· Mobile data application.
NeuStar, Inc.
Date of formation: December 8, 1998
Legal
Status: Corporation
Incorporated
in State of Delaware, USA
Primary
location: 1120
Vermont Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20005
USA
Size of staff: 192 employees
Formal alliances: None
References: Please see Registry Operator’s Proposal Section II.4.2, References
Corporate or other structure: Corporation
Ownership
structure: 68%
owned by Warburg Pincus Equity Partners and affiliates
4% owned by Lockheed Martin Corporation
3% owned by Universal Telecommunications, Inc.
25% owned by NeuStar management
History and Overview
Rampant change is underway throughout the communications industry worldwide. With the proliferation of new technologies, services, providers, competition and regulatory change, as well as globalization, ensuring interoperability between networks has become a huge challenge. Yet, interoperability is essential to providing ubiquitous service, whether calling any phone or sending an Internet packet to any device on the planet. NeuStar, Inc., is the leading provider of critical clearinghouse services that enable communications networks to interoperate.
The challenge of enabling the interoperability of networks is great and unprecedented.
Increasingly, the industry relies on the unique power of NeuStar's clearinghouse solutions to fundamentally solve these challenges and pave the road ahead. Whether administering crucial public resources (telephone numbers), managing vital real-time network routing databases (number portability routing registry), or exchanging data for provisioning and billing, fiercely competing communications service providers rely on NeuStar as their trusted third-party provider of these services.
Since its founding in 1996, originally as an independent Communications Industry Services business unit within Lockheed Martin, NeuStar has been selected time and time again by the industry in open competitive procurements to provide first-of-a-kind mission critical services. In this capacity, NeuStar designed, built, and manages one of the largest data bases in the world and now serves as the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA). It operates the telephone numbering registry for the North American Numbering Plan as a public numbering resource. NeuStar is also the Local Number Portability Administrator (LNPA) for the U.S. and Canada, operating the enormous routing registry, the Number Portability Administration Center Service Management System (NPAC SMS) for North America. The integrity and accuracy of this service is essential for virtually every telephone call placed within North America.
The "Neu" in NeuStar refers to its trusted, neutral third-party role. All of its services are available to all service providers on non-discriminatory terms. Its entire staff is sworn to a corporate Code of Conduct and voluntarily subjects itself to independent quarterly audits, reported publicly, of its compliance to this Code. The United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has affirmed NeuStar as a neutral third party in FCC 99-346, CC Docket No. 92-237. No other entity or company has undergone such a thorough assessment and resounding endorsement of its neutrality. The criticality of the industry functions NeuStar has been entrusted with leads it to serve all stakeholders: regulators, standards bodies, industry and public interest groups, as well as all segments of the communications industry itself. It does so in a policy-neutral manner, providing instead important technical and operational subject matter expertise. Its mission is to remain the trusted, neutral third party that all these stakeholders have come to rely upon.
The "Star" in NeuStar refers to this central role as a trusted clearinghouse, the hub to which all communications networks connect. NeuStar’s systems are engineered and operated to connect with all networks, providing high volumes of reliable transactions and its mission requires it.
Since 1996, NeuStar has been the company that the communications industry turns to for neutral, trusted support. It demonstrates its reliability in managing large databases, consistently executing millions of transactions daily, maintaining secure and confidential data, and enabling the secure exchange of network and business information to ensure interoperability between next generation networks. The Federal Communications Commission as a result of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 sanctioned NeuStar to provide essential, secure clearinghouse and database administration services.
Services and Products
NeuStar offers a diverse range of the products and services that can be broken down into three main categories:
1. Regulated Services
2. Deregulated Commercial Services
3. NeuStar Worldwide Services.
Regulated Services
North American Numbering Plan Administration (NANPA)—NeuStar operates the telephone numbering registry for the North American Numbering Plan as a public numbering resource, serving customers throughout the United States, Canada, Bermuda, and many of the Caribbean islands. It is the centralized source for assigning all area codes and central office codes, and coordinating area code relief as the demand for numbers increases. NeuStar became the NANPA on October 9, 1997 for a five-year period that began formally on February 21, 1998. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the North American Numbering Council (NANC), an industry group advising the FCC on numbering issues, selected NeuStar through a competitive bidding process. As designated in NeuStar's agreement with the FCC and the NANC, NeuStar ensures timely, equitable, and efficient administration of the rapidly growing number of requests for area codes and central office codes.
Number Portability Administration Center (NPAC)—In April 1996, NeuStar was chosen to serve as the Local Number Portability Administrator (LNPA) through 2003. In that role, NeuStar operates the call and signaling/routing registry for North America that allows customers to keep their existing phone numbers when changing local service providers. NeuStar’s development and operation of the NPAC in Chicago, Illinois, provides a master registry of routing information that interfaces with local carriers. Through this center, NeuStar coordinates the porting of local telephone numbers between carriers in North America, serving more than 250 service providers daily and porting more than 700,000 numbers each month. For its innovative design, on-time delivery, and quality database, the company was presented the Supercomm Award in 1998 for excellence in Operational Support Systems.
Number Pooling Administration—As proven by NeuStar, number pooling has the potential to extend the North American Numbering Plan’s (NANP) life well into the next century. NeuStar has been the Pooling Administrator for over two years for U.S. pooling trials in several states and numbering plan areas. Number pooling, also known as thousand-block pooling, allows for the disbursement of numbers to service providers in 1,000 number parcels. NeuStar worked with the telecommunications industry to develop the initial Pooling Administration guidelines in New York and Illinois in 1997-1998. The current guidelines are based upon those findings and have spurred the demand for pooling implementation in several other states. NeuStar continues to work with the Industry Numbering Council (INC) to suggest and modify changes to current pooling guidelines based upon NeuStar's actual experiences with pooling trials. Number pooling is a rapidly expanding service that requires a knowledgeable, experienced staff like that of NeuStar.
Deregulated Commercial Services
NeuStar’s commercial services build on the company’s strength as a neutral third party in developing and managing complex database systems and network elements. New commercial services are designed to help the industry improve operational efficiencies while saving time and money.
CARE Clearinghouse—An industry solution for Customer Account Record Exchange (CARE), the Clearinghouse simplifies the mechanized exchange of customer information between long distance and competitive local exchange carriers. NeuStar’s CARE Clearinghouse service supports CARE industry standards. CARE Clearinghouse participants benefit from expedited CARE processing and reduced costs.
IdentiBaseÔ—A solution to number registry problems resulting from deregulation, number portability, pooling, and local competition. With IdentiBase, the Local Service Provider of any telephone number—ported, pooled, or not—can be identified whenever it is needed, in whatever format is desired. Information from IdentiBase can help improve billing, provisioning, order entry, trouble management and universal emergency services. IdentiBase’s flexible, easy-to-query, timely data allows each department to better serve the customer base, increase revenue, decrease costs, and reduce customer churn.
NeuStar Worldwide
NeuStar is rapidly expanding its service offerings beyond North America. In Europe, initial offerings include:
Number Portability Administration Service—providing centralized, standardized access to multiple in-country number portability administrations.
Intelligent Network Services—providing C7 switch and transport services, Pan-European intelligent network number portability database and other intelligent network services such as carrier pre-selection, indirect access and freefone, even in non-intelligent network countries.
Inter-Carrier Clearinghouse Services—providing a transaction clearinghouse for exchanging number portability service orders and unbundled network elements with other operators.
Internet Protocol Services—providing intelligent network services for Internet protocol-based network elements for number portability and telephone number directory services.
Conclusion
JVTeam is the synthesis of two companies who value innovation and integrity above all else. NeuStar and Melourne IT have each thrived in their respective fields as neutral, third party providers of word-leading technology solutions. The composite business experience of JVTeam’s parent companies has produced an organization replete with the people, skills, knowledge, and vision to deliver the next generation domain name registry.
SECTION D13.1.4
II.1.4 REGISTRY/DATABASE/INTERNET RELATED EXPERIENCE AND ACTIVITIES
JVTeam brings a comprehensive pedigree in the development of Internet based software and database applications to the registry operations by combining the extensive DNS experience it inherits from Melbourne IT with the unparalleled registry database know-how of NeuStar.
Effective and responsible management of a new registry requires that its operator understand the fluid, innovative environment of the Internet and build on the strength of its DNS experience to ensure the successful introduction of new TLDs. A registry operator must have substantial experience and proven credentials in managing a significant public database, the ability to facilitate discussions about standards development and technical issues between competing parties, and a commitment to the security of proprietary data to ensure competition. In addition, a registry operator must have demonstrable evidence of its ability to design, build, and maintain a robust, responsive, scalable, and secure database to ensure the highest levels of quality and flexibility in the changing world of global communications. NeuStar and Melbourne IT are leaders and innovators in their respective fields and are instrumental in the effective management, solution development, and policy guidelines for managing critical public resources.
Internet and Domain Names
Melbourne IT is dedicated to supporting innovative technological development and responsible management of the Internet. Since its inception in 1996, it has:
· Operated as a proactive member of the Internet community especially through its involvement with DNS.
· Played a leading role in the growth of eCommerce and online activities within the Asia Pacific region through its role as the delegated administrator of the .com.au domain space.
· Been active in the development of solutions exploring the convergence of telecommunications, IT, and multimedia in producing online applications using technologies such as Wireless Application Protocol (WAP).
· Actively supported technological innovation through its development of and commitment to its Incubator Centre which sponsors and fosters the innovative ideas of talented young businesses.
· Been at the forefront of the latest and emerging Internet technologies by maintaining constant research and development in areas such as metadata, automated distributed database integration, three-tier web based systems, e-Commerce applications, and mobile data applications.
In addition, Melbourne IT has had a substantial involvement with and dedication to the Internet. It has been actively involved in key industry associations, including:
· com.au: Appointed Administrator October 8, 1996
· Internet Society of Australia: Founding member, 1997
· Internet Industry Association: Founding member, 1997
· ICANN Domain Names Support Organization (DNSO): Participant since 1998
· ICANN: Participant in meetings, 1998-2000
· ICANN Test-Bed Registrar: Appointed April, 1999
· ICANN President’s Task Force: Staff member appointed, 1999
· DNSO Names Council: Staff member elected, 1999
· Australian Domain Name Administration (ADNA): Member, 1997-98
· auDA (.au Domain Administration): Founding member, 1999
· auDA Board: Staff members elected, April, 1999 and re-elected October, 1999
· Asia Pacific Top Level Domains Forum (APTLD): Member
· IETF: Contributor and participant, on-going
· MINC (Multilingual Internet Names Consortium): Staff member elected to board, September, 2000
· W3C (World Wide Web Consortium): Member since 1999
· ITU: Contributor to network standards relating to ATM
JVTeam will leverage the intimate domain name knowledge of Melbourne IT into development of the next generation registry facilitating automation of every component of domain name registration and management. JVTeam will create a TLD registry service which takes zone file creation and distribution into the next stage of evolution with near real-time updates, enabling an active web site and/or email address within an hour of registration. JVTeam’s experience with the DNS, zone file management, and distribution make this possible.
JVTeam and Registry Operations
One of the most significant benefits of a do