18(c) What operating rules will you adopt to eliminate or minimize social costs?

Prototypical answer:

As noted in the answers to Questions 18(b) and 22, MIT plans to maintain at least two (2) web sites detailing MIT’s accepted policies and procedures for registering and maintaining “.mit” domains (the “Policies and Procedures Sites”). MIT staff will, at various points during and after implementation of the “.mit” TLD, alert the MIT community to the existence of the Policies and Procedures Sites. MIT believes that, by ensuring eligible registrants’ accessibility to these terms and conditions, it can, for both applicants and MIT staff, reduce the time associated with the application process for “.mit” domains. By streamlining the domain request process, thereby reducing the number of questions submitted to MIT’s Office of Information Services & Technology (“IS&T”), MIT’s Technology Licensing Office (“TLO”), and MIT’s Office of General Counsel (“OGC”), MIT will reduce its costs incurred (in terms of manpower devoted to the registration process). The first five (5) years of the TLD implementation process will provide valuable information as to how MIT can further reduce costs associated with the domain request process. Therefore, during the first five (5) years of the “.mit” TLD’s availability, IS&T, TLO, and OGC representatives will periodically discuss if⁄how MIT can reduce the costs incurred by MIT (as a result of operating the TLD) without diminishing the efficiency with which MIT administers its TLD program and⁄or the quality of service offered by MIT. Because MIT will not charge eligible registrants for any aspect of applying for or maintaining a “.mit” TLD, the notion of offering any sort of cost benefits (i.e. bulk discounts, advantageous pricing, etc.) is not applicable to MIT’s proposed system. Moreover, as long as MIT administers a gTLD, it will not change the aforementioned policy in order to charge eligible registrants. Thus, the prospect of price increases imposed upon registrants is not applicable to MIT’s anticipated system for a gTLD.

Also as outlined in the answer to Question 18(b), MIT will offer eligible registrants a modified “first come⁄first serve” system for requesting “.mit” domains. Generally, eligible registrants shall be permitted to request any available “.mit” domain (subject to the review process detailed in the response to Question 18(b)). If an eligible registrant wishes to register an already-registered “.mit” domain, then he⁄she⁄it must establish how his⁄her⁄its rights to the contested domain outweigh those of the eligible registrant that has already secured the domain. To do so, the contesting eligible registrant may submit notification of a dispute via the appropriate link on one of the “Policies and Procedures Sites”. This type of dispute will be reviewed by at least one IS&T representative and at least one staff member from either MIT’s TLO or OGC. Each party (i.e. the eligible registrant that already registered the at-issue domain and the contesting eligible registrant) shall have an opportunity to explain (to those reviewing the dispute) why he⁄she⁄it represents the more suitable recipient of that “.mit” domain. Once those considering the dispute have determined an appropriate resolution, they will communicate the results in writing to each eligible registrant involved in the matter. If either registrant wishes to appeal the results of this inquiry, they may contact the TLO in order to do so. However, the MIT TLO reserves the right to issue final decisions on such matters.

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