Auctioning expired domain names

[Sandy Burdsall <sandyb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I think the auctioning of expired domain names should not be allowed. I 
would like to see the continued practice of expired domain names "dropped 
back into the pool."
Sandy Burdsall
Wisconsin, USA


* AUCTIONING EXPIRED DOMAIN NAMES - GOOD OR BAD FOR CONSUMERS? - ICANN also
recently posted an "advisory" to raise awareness of plans by two registrars
to begin directly selling or auctioning expired domain registrations.  If
registrants fail to renew their domain names at the conclusion of an
expiration grace period, NSI and Tucows plan to auction the rights to these
domain names, instead of allowing them to "drop back into the pool" of names
available for re-registration on a first-come, first-served basis, as is
currently the process.  Both registrars plan to give part of the auction
price to the prior registrant (NSI plans to give 20% or less, Tucows plans
to give about 80%).  Is this good for registrants? Should registrars have
the right to control and auction these names and, if so, what is ICANN's
role?  What might this mean for ICANN's delete policy and Verisign's
proposed wait list service?  Do you have an opinion?  Post your views via
email to <forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>.