Costs to register a .COM domain name may increase if VeriSign have their way.
Currently, the .COM registry is operated by VeriSign. They are expected to make about $450 million from registration of .COM domain names in 2007.
What they’re asking for now is a perpetual and unsupervised monopoly. Which, amongst other things, will allow them to increase prices by 7% during four of every six upcoming years. So, instead of falling, prices will *increase*.
However, by their [own admission](http://www.verisign.com/stellent/groups/public/documents/presentations/035441.pdf), VeriSIgn’s costs will not increase, they are manageable with current equipment and procedure.
Bob Parsons, CEO and Founder of GoDaddy.com, [reports](http://www.bobparsons.com/march2006.html) that ICANN have [approved the VeriSign settlement agreements](http://www.icann.org/announcements/announcement-28feb06.htm). The agreement will now proceed to the U.S. Department of Commerce for final approval.
For a more detailed explanation of the situation, you can read Bob Parson’s February Blog here [http://www.bobparsons.com/february2006.html](http://www.bobparsons.com/february2006.html).
**What can you do?**
You can, whether you are a United States citizen or not, submit your comments concerning the proposed .COM deal directly to the ICANN Board of Directors at the following link: [http://ombudsman.icann.org/contact/](http://ombudsman.icann.org/contact/)
or
Write to U.S. Congressional Representatives or Senators here’s how to find their email addresses:
For the Senate:
www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
For the House:
www.house.gov/writerep/
**Here is a suggested form letter you might send :**
Dear _________:
I am outraged about the recently approved .COM registry agreement and settlement between ICANN and VeriSign. This agreement is anti-competitive and bad for consumers and the Internet community as a whole.
The agreement provides VeriSign with the ability to increase prices by 7% annually in four of the next six years without cost justification. Furthermore, under the agreement, VeriSign’s monopoly would run in perpetuity as the agreement would automatically renew without the opportunity for competitive bidding. VeriSign and ICANN should not be allowed to establish a perpetual monopoly without Congressional oversight and the opportunity for input from the Internet community.
As your constituent, I want to make you aware that the ICANN Board has approved this anti-competitive agreement on February 28th, 2006. The next step is for the NTIA to approve the deal. I urge you to bring our concerns to the attention of the NTIA.
Sincerely,
——–
Don’t think this won’t effect you.