National Reference Group (2003)

The original One City One Site (OCOS) model envisaged that the NRG would act as the peak management body for the geographic second level domains (2LDs). The auDA Board has since resolved that the new 2LDs will be managed directly by auDA.

auDA is committed to ensuring that the geographic 2LDs are implemented in a way that maximises their public appeal and utility, whilst still preserving their central community-based purpose. auDA is conscious that the success of the geographic 2LDs depends in large part on the endorsement of key stakeholders, especially state/territory governments.

It is therefore intended that the NRG will play a high-level policy advisory role to auDA, providing an important conduit for the views and interests of the Australian community.

The NRG will:

• consider policy and implementation issues in relation to geographic 2LDs
• consider outcomes from the NSW pilot project for national policy implications
• undertake consultation with stakeholders and the general public
• provide recommendations to the auDA Board on the overall model and system for geographic 2LDs.

The NRG Advisory Forum will provide a mechanism for involving a wide range of stakeholders whilst keeping core membership of the NRG to a manageable size.

auDA will chair the NRG and provide secretariat support services, including drafting NRG papers, and hosting the NRG mail list and web site.

The NRG will conduct its business primarily by teleconference, with face-to-face meetings convened only when necessary. The NRG will aim to meet during the first week of every month.

The pilot project was sponsored by the NSW Office of Information Technology and auDA. It ran during 2003-2004 under the supervision of the National Reference Group.

The project had the following aims:

• to provide communities with the opportunity to establish an online presence by developing a structure using geographic names that is logical, marketable and financially viable – delivering social, cultural and economic benefits to all communities
• to develop an appropriate best practice model for the implementation of community portals for NSW and Australia using and implementing a linked system of geographic domains, broadly based on the pioneering work of the One City One Site Working Party.

The project conducted community test cases in Bathurst and Wollongong, NSW and Ballarat, Victoria.

The project was evaluated by the Enterprise Technology and Human Oriented Systems (ETHOS) laboratory at the University of Wollongong.