Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the proposed ICANN - NSI Agreement.In
the interest of seeing the internet prosper and grow, it is our view that ICANN must
accomplish two important things:
1) introduce competition into the domain name
registration process
2) add new top level domain names
In this first major task,
ICANN has only half succeeded. Although ICANN is to be congratulated for accrediting
several new domain registrars, it has been unable to reassume control of the root
servers held by Network Solutions.
For the domain name process to operate in a
truly competitive environment, ICANN should put the root server administration out
to bid to competing companies. It's that simple. There are hundreds of qualified
companies in America (and worldwide) that would be more than happy to bid against
Network Solutions for root server management.
ICANN has failed to complete this
process, and has allowed Network Solutions to continue on with little challenge or
competition. In this respect, ICANN has failed to allow the domain process to achieve
true competition.
In the second major task, that being the addition of new top
level domains, we can only hope that ICANN will expedite this process. Good domain
names under the .com top level domains are nearly impossible to find, and are now
actively auctioned for large sums of money. This was not the intent for the domain
name system.
Several new top level domains are sorely needed. At least 5 - 10 new
top level domain names need to be added now. To delay this process only slows the
continued growth and expansion of the internet.
We can only hope that ICANN will
see to it to rapidly introduce new top level domain names into the marketplace. This
action will create a whole new surge of interest and activity on the internet, and
will benefit all internet users.
Additionally, new top level domains will help
diminish the domain name monopoly held by Network Solutions, and will give other
companies the opportunity to enter and compete in the marketplace.
Respectfully
submitted,
Andrew Lutts, President
Net Atlantic
http://www.netatlantic.com