SNAFU

Since you write about technology I thought the following snafu might interest you.

Have you  tried registering a WWW domain lately?  It appears that the folks registering URL's are terribly uninformed.  Their confusion could lead to chaos for global registry.

Apparently two weeks ago Network Solutions launched a new site, now all bookmarks for Internic.net go directly to it. And therein lies a massive problem.  Workers at this new business are untrained and have no idea how the system works, cannot access or view the Internic database, may not even have access to the whois screen! 

I discovered this because on 26 March I attempted to register a new domain.

The e-mail registration was down, and a single phone number for the tele-marketers at Network Solutions flashed on the screen.  This was the only number offered for site registration. No stranger as to how the system is supposed to work, I phoned in my request, informing the person that I had my own handler, and ISP--- this was to be an Internic registration, not a Network Solutions one. The price difference was notable: $119 for a Network Solutions account, $70 for an Internic account.  I did not want or need a new handler number.

"Just follow the same info on EARTHSTORY <http://www.earthstory.com>, a children's fiction site," I said.  "Use the same site administrator, ISP, handler, billing address, just substitute the new domain name." 

"No problem," the worker said.  Little did I realize that she didn't have a clue as to what to do. What should have been a simple task, turned into a royal boondoggle. 

If this comedy of errors interests you, please contact me.  Otherwise, thanks for your ear.

Submitted by: Hope Marcus