Below is an interesting comparison of some features of domain name 
registries from the UK, New Zealand, and proposed for Canada (with
very different sizes of board :-).

* Nominet UK is run essentially by and for the registrars (ISPs) - users 
  have no representation.  Registry is run by Nominet.  Policy is defined 
  by registrars.

* Domainz is a commercial arm of the Internet Society of NZ - users who
  are members of ISOCNZ have representation.  Registry is run by the
  major registrar (Domainz). Policy is defined by ISOCNZ.

* CIRA membership is proposed to be free and automatic for all domain name 
  holders, registrars pay a fee.  Registry is completely separate from 
  registrars.  Policy is defined by domain name holders.


                Nominet UK        ISOCNZ/Domainz       CIRA (Canada)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Board/      2 Exec                Up to 20            3 organisational
Council:    4 elected             10 elected          7 elected

Membership: Registrars/orgs       Individs/orgs       Individs/registrars
            Join ~A$1240          Ind:   ~A$66 pa     DN holders: auto, free
            p.a. ~ A$310          Org: ~A$1300 pa     Registrars: ~A$1040 pa

Voting:     75% rel. to no. of    1 vote per member   1 vote per member
            names registered,     (individ or org)    (individ or org)
            25% 1 member 1 vote 

Board       Nominet UK            ISOCNZ              CIRA
Members     Nominet UK            ISOCNZ              CIRA, DN holders
Registry    Nominet UK            Domainz             CIRA
Registrars  Nominet UK members    Domainz + Agents    Separate registrars 
Users       DN holders            DN holders          CIRA Members

Policy 
driven by:  Registrars            ISOCNZ members      Domain name holders

See:
Nominet - http://www.nic.uk/
Domainz - http://www.domainz.net.nz/
CIRA - http://www.canarie.ca/cdncc/finalreport.html


Kate Lance