ICANN - Verisign Deal

[Tom M <webmaster@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

This is a letter addressing my personal views on the recent settlement
between ICANN and Verisign.

Prior to this agreement, my beliefs were that ICANN's job was to manage the
domain registery fairly and without favoritism.  By just giving Verisign the
contract for an infinte time, without bidding from other companies, you are
not only demoting competition in the domain industry, but directly hurting
the other registars who would bid on the .com registry.  You are allowing a
monoply of the domain business by just turning your head to this major
comapny.  This letter is not simply to compain about the increase of the
ICANN fee, as it is perfectly understandable why an organization such as
ICANN would need more money to cover their costs in today's world, where all
the prices are rising.  However, Verisign raising their prices 7% is
completely unjustified.  They are a corporate company out to make the most
money without caring about their users.  Unlike ICANN who will reinvest the
new money revenue into improving the current system, Verisign will simply
pocket the extra funds, to fund another project such as their Sitefinder
service in 2003.  Clealy, this ICANN - Verisign agreement is completely
illogical, and simply a case of greed by Verisign.

Tom Marx
Active Member of Domain Name Owner's Association (http://www.dnoa.org)