>As long as all ISPs recognise that domains granted through a hierarchy
>leading back to the IANA at the top are valid, then DNS customers can
>expect other people on the Internet to be able to resolve their domain
>as long as it was approved through this chain of authority back to IANA.
>Of course some ISPs may choose to recognise other hierarchies as well.
>__________________________________________________________________________
> David Keegel <djk&#167;cyber.com.au>  URL: http://www.cyber.com.au/users/djk/
>Cybersource P/L: Unix Systems Administration and TCP/IP network management
> 

David Keegel's point above is spot on. It includes the 'legacy' domains and
excludes .aus, and currently the so called 'gTLDs' etc. The delegated
authority flows down from IANA through both .com.au but as importantly, via
the INTERNIC licence contract to every owner of every subdomain of .com,
.net, .org etc.

So Ozemails authority to sell .aust.com subdomains is identical to
MelbIT's. Both of these are "granted through a hierarchy leading back to
IANA".

As far as 'official' recognition is concerned, the concept is reflexive and
requires a recognised authority. So far, that is not ADNA, although they
aspire to and may obtain this consensus. The only such Australian
'official' obtains his authority from IANA and Jon Postel, and has no
juristiction over anything other than .AU

Perhaps Robert would like to comment?

_____________________________________________

Larry Bloch                   
Chief Executive Officer       
NetRegistry Pty Limited       
email:  larry&#167;netregistry.au.com
Office: +61-(0)2-9555 6299
Fax:    +61-(0)2-9555 5808

http://www.netregistry.au.com
Domain House, PO Box 2088, Sydney, NSW 1043
_____________________________________________