Petition Posted

[Danny Younger <dannyyounger@xxxxxxxxx>]

The following petition has been posted at
http://new.PetitionOnline.com/pricesup/petition.html

To:  The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and
Numbers (ICANN) 

We, the undersigned, rise in opposition to the
proposed increase in prices for .com registrants. We
understand that there are times when price increases
are warranted ? this is not one of those times. 

The VeriSign organization has not proposed any service
enhancements that would justify an increase in prices,
nor have they been subject to the imposition of any
new ICANN policies that have raised their cost of
doing business. VeriSign has not documented any
extraordinary expense resulting from an attack or
threat of attack on the security or stability of the
Internet?s Domain Name System, nor has VeriSign
suffered from diminishing returns that would impact a
costing structure based upon economies of scale -- In
Q3 2005 new registrations for .com increased 33
percent, year-over-year. 

Permitting a monopoly to raise its prices by up to 7
percent per annum in perpetuity sets a bad precedent.
This action raises concerns about ICANN?s commitment
to help bridge the digital divide, and it portends
comparable increases on the part of other domain name
registries that will similarly seek to maximize
shareholder returns at the expense of the registrant
community. 

We understand that part of this proposed price
increase is destined to offset the massively increased
fees that ICANN has negotiated with VeriSign as part
of a comprehensive litigation settlement. We do not
believe that the proper way for two litigants to
settle their differences is by offering to reach into
our pockets to solve their respective issues. 

The resolution of differences between ICANN and
VeriSign should not be contingent upon approval of a
new registry contract that so negatively impacts our
registrant community. We petition you to solve your
respective issues without imposing an unwarranted
price increase upon a community of registrants that
had no part in your mutual dispute. 

http://new.PetitionOnline.com/pricesup/petition.html

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