Board Minutes - 14 February 2005

Public Version
Meeting of the .au Domain Administration Board

14 February 2005 - 10.00am
.au Domain Administration Limited. 107 Faraday Street. Carlton VIC 3053

Present:
Greg Crew, Chris Disspain, Kim Heitman, Peter Nissen, Bennett Oprysa, Elspeth Ross, Josh Rowe, Peter Shilling and Tony Staley

Teleconference:
Larry Bloch and Cheryl Langdon-Orr

Observers:
Lindsay Barton (DCITA) and John Higgins (Hayes Knight)

Apologies:
Kim Davies and Greg Watson

1.       Continuous Disclosure
There were no matters to be disclosed.

2.       Confirmation of Minutes
Subject to one amendment, the minutes of the November 2004 meeting were confirmed.

3.       Finance Report

The board noted the finance report approved by the Finance Committee.

4.       CEO Report

The following issues were noted:

           Registry

Software for EPPv1 (the new IETF endorsed standard for EPP) will be released for testing by registrars with implementation planned after 6-months.

           Geographic names in com.au and net.au

A proposal for the release of the names has been sent to registrars for feedback.  The registry is developing the necessary software which will be available for testing in March.

            New Names Policy

Amended and new policies have been sent to registrars for feedback and it is anticipated that they will come into force in March.    

             GST

The ATO is still considering this issue.

             Domain Names Australia

DNA and Rafferty have now been issued with a taxation certificate (costs order) for costs awarded against them in the Federal Court action and the Appeal.   

5.       Membership Applications

The members below were accepted in the classes indicated:

Colin Jones (Demand)
Justin Sullivan (Demand)
Daytec Australia Pty Ltd (Supply)
Beetle Domains (Supply)

6.       Board Correspondence

No correspondence was received.

7.       Other Business

Following a discussion on the growing cash surplus it was agreed that the finance committee develop a policy on the appropriate level of reserve funds to be held, and a strategy to bring the current capital surplus into line with that policy. A recommendation is to be circulated to the Board by end March for discussion at the April meeting.

8. Next Meeting

The next board meeting will be held on Friday 15 April 2005 in Melbourne.

The following board meeting will be on 14 June 2005 in Sydney at a venue to be advised.

Board meetings commence at 10am.