ALAC Input on ICANN-VRSN Agreement
Dear Dr. Cerf and Members of the Board of Directors: The At Large Advisory Committee ("ALAC") has carefully reviewed and considered the revised agreements between ICANN and Verisign and does not believe that the revisions address the serious concerns of registrants previously described by the ALAC in both its written submissions and its meeting with the Board in Vancouver. In order to fulfill ICANN's role of promoting and sustaining a competitive environment, the ALAC recommends that the Board take the following actions: 1. Reject the proposed settlement agreement; 2. Proceed to trial with Verisign; and 3. Begin a renewal/rebid process for .COM in accord with the renewal provisions of the existing agreement. The ALAC understands that ICANN Staff believes that one of the litigation risks to ICANN is that the legal foundation on which ICANN was built will be eroded. We believe that this is a risk worth taking. An ICANN that cannot ensure competition and protect registrants from monopolistic pricing is not an ICANN worth retaining. Respectfully submitted, At Large Advisory Committee ---------------------------------------- Digitally Signed by Bret A. Fausett on Behalf of At Large Advisory Committee ---------------------------------------- |