February 2020 - comments-com-amendment-3-03jan20@icann.org

[Comments-com-amendment-3-03jan20] Non transparent, unfair business practices
by Dayna Culwell Feb. 12, 2020

Feb. 12, 2020

As a business owner, I am upset and troubled that Verisign will be allowed to increase the wholesale price to registrars for .COM domains every year for 8 out of the next 10 years. Small business owners like me will be shoved aside so that your big business can profit more. Please rethink how you serve your customers and how you serve small businesses all over the U.S. Thank you for establishing fair pricing up unto this point in time. .com Warm regards, Dayna Culwell, Certified Yoga Therapist, (512) 914-4870 *New! Online Yoga Therapy videos on sale* <https://yogabydayna.mykajabi.com/yoga-by-dayna-sales-page-1> Check out THE SUNSHINE HOUSE ON THE BEACH <https://abnb.me/GBgeWiYKYO> Port Aransas, TX

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[Comments-com-amendment-3-03jan20] Proposed Amendment 3 to the .COM Registry Agreement
by Raeanne Dimick Feb. 12, 2020

Feb. 12, 2020

Hello, I’d like to share my comments against the Proposed Amendment to the .COM Registry Agreement. First, this agreement was not publicly announced and many registrars (and myself) feel blindsided by this. Especially if it passes, regular consumers will have no idea this was coming which is also unfair to them. Second, the price increase is unnecessary and seems like an attempt to capitalize on the .COM owner, I do not agree with this measure. It seems as though Verisign is trying to “buy up” the real estate of .COM’s and milk it for all its worth. I’m sure many people would switch to other domains once the prices of .COM astronomically increase (even with the caps and freezes)Especially the amount that would be increased over. But even then, what’s next, Version coming after the other domains as well one after the next, hiking up prices? Third the ICANN agreement to receive $20 million dollars (over 5 years) doesn’t have a clear explanation why they’re receiving this money and how the funds would be spent. I am worried the money collected would not be put to proper use or to better the end user. Fourth, Versign operating as it’s own domain registrar is unnecessary and again a seeming attempt to capitalize .COM. There are many registrars out there for a reason. They offer specific support, features, and benefits to their customers. I use the registrar that I use because they are easy, secure, and informative. In fact, they’ve alerted me to this specific issue I’m emailing you about. I can’t see Verisign offering me information on potential amendments they’re looking to make in the future until they’ve already been made and I have no say in the matter. I would not trust them, especially given light that they are trying to do this deal behind closed doors. And lastly, ICANN has ignored previous comments on amendments and issues in the past to cap pricing. Seemingly to sway the decision in their favor, again, not keeping the consumer in mind but rather profits. This does not give me trust in Verisign or ICANN in this matter or any future matter they wish to amend. I do hope you’ll take this feedback seriously and consider the implications of eroding trust. Raeanne Dimick WEB DESIGNER p. 720-432-2191 w. shakadesigns.com IT'S TIME...TO HANG LOOSE! *Office hours are M-F 9am-5pm MST Emails are responded to within 2 business days

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[Comments-com-amendment-3-03jan20] Proposed Amendment 3 to the .COM Registry Agreement
by Myron Bennett Feb. 12, 2020

Feb. 12, 2020

I am a registrant of a .com domain name. I am against the proposed price increase to .COM domains. No one other than Verisign want increases in .COM prices. The current rate of $7.85 is already far more than justified. Verisign is merely your manager of the .COM Registry – it has no business dictating the price. ICANN is supposed to govern the domain name system in the public interest. Myron Bennett Milledgeville

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[Comments-com-amendment-3-03jan20] .com changes
by David Gahagan Feb. 12, 2020

Feb. 12, 2020

Price Increases Verisign will be allowed to increase the wholesale price to registrars for .COM domains by 7% each year in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. After a two year “freeze”, Verisign can increase prices by 7% annually during 2026-2029, then another two year “freeze”. This cycle will continue, meaning that within 10 years, .COM domains could cost approximately 70% more than the current wholesale price of $7.85 — and the sky is the limit. It is not clear how much of these price increases registrars will pass along to consumers, but it is likely that most of these increases will be paid by domain name registrants. The contract does allow for other price increases for certain extraordinary situations, so it is possible prices could increase more than anticipated. ICANN Will Receive an Extra $20 Million With the contract changes, Verisign agreed to pay ICANN an additional $20 million dollars over five years to support ICANN’s initiatives regarding the security and stability of the domain name system. There is no explanation why Verisign did this, how ICANN will spend the money, or who will ensure that the funds are properly spent. Verisign Can Operate as a Domain Registrar ICANN also had rules that the operator of a TLD could not operate a domain name registrar. Although in 2012 ICANN allowed operators of new gTLDs to have domain name registrars, it did not apply to Verisign. The new contract will allow Verisign to operate its own registrar, except for selling .COM domain names itself. To circumvent this, it is also possible that Verisign could act as a reseller of .COM domains, through another registrar. This result is that the company that controls almost 80% of the registrar pricing for domain names will compete directly with all domain registrars, maximizing its control of domain name pricing to the detriment of other competing registrars. While this might result in lower prices to consumers, fewer registrars will harm competition, choice, and domain name services. Verisign’s registrar could also use its dominant position to charge higher prices to consumers, while at the same time raising registrar prices. 4. ICANN Ignored Previous Comments As detailed on Standing Up to ICANN to Keep Domain Prices in Check <https://www.namecheap.com/blog/ensuring-icann-keep-domain-prices-in-check/> and pricecaps.org <http://pricecaps.org/>, over 3,500 comments were submitted in support of price controls for the .ORG, .INFO, and .BIZ TLDs. Only six comments supported removing price controls. ICANN discounted the comments that were in favor of maintaining price caps. A number of the comments were submitted using an online tool, which caused the comments to be discounted as “spam” by the ICANN Ombudsman. ICANN removed the price caps, primarily relying upon a biased preliminary analysis from 2009 by an economics professor that did not reference any data.

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[Comments-com-amendment-3-03jan20] .COM Price Increase -NO PLEASE
by R. Benwell Feb. 12, 2020

Feb. 12, 2020

No. No. No. Please!! DO NOT RAISE THE PRICE FOR .COM DOMAINS. Thank you.

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[Comments-com-amendment-3-03jan20] Proposed Amendment 3 to the .COM Registry Agreement
by Peter Joe Feb. 12, 2020

Feb. 12, 2020

I am a registrant of a .com domain name. I am against the proposed price increase to .COM domains. No one other than Verisign want increases in .COM prices. The current rate of $7.85 is already far more than justified. Verisign is merely your manager of the .COM Registry – it has no business dictating the price. ICANN is supposed to govern the domain name system in the public interest. Peter Jakarta, Jakarta Indonesia

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[Comments-com-amendment-3-03jan20] Regarding the New Contract to Allow for .Com Price Increases
by Kelly Ramos, Lacy Feb. 12, 2020

Feb. 12, 2020

I oppose this decision at the 7% yearly incremental raise over the next decade and beyond. This decision will allow for too many repercussions across the internet and internet users, which is the majority of the global population. ICANN and Verisign need to communicate directly with their constituents and affiliates and partner organizations when changing matters that affect the global economy. Please do better. *Lacy Kelly Ramos*Digital Communication Specialist and Multiple Domain Owner

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[Comments-com-amendment-3-03jan20] Proposed Amendment 3 to the .COM Registry Agreement
by jim＠jimgilbert.us Feb. 12, 2020

Feb. 12, 2020

Hello ICANN, I thought you were created to promote competitive prices and keep price caps on TLD. Now I find that this is not entirely true? Your selling all the TLD to a single Company and they have a right to raise the cost 8 out of 10 years. Making this a gold mine for this company. That's worse than Trumps policies. I would just like to know what I am reading is true? Patiently awaiting an answer that will tell me it isn't true that you are going against the reason you were created and doing this horrid act. Regards, Jim Gilbert

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[Comments-com-amendment-3-03jan20] Against the new .COM agreement
by amoz.me＠outlook.com Feb. 12, 2020

Feb. 12, 2020

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[Comments-com-amendment-3-03jan20] Comment on Amendment 3 to the .com registry agreement
by Mitch Allen Feb. 12, 2020

Feb. 12, 2020

To whom it may concern: Briefly, I oppose amendment as proposed, specifically the provisions that support: Verisign and ICANN may agree to amend the .COM Registry Agreement to permit an increase to the price for .COM registry services, up to a maximum of 7 percent in each of the final four years of each six-year period (the first six-year period commenced on October 26, 2018). Verisign’s role should be to perform a public service. Increases should be restricted to no more than inflationary adjustments and there should be no room for potential profit-taking from such service. Regards, Mitch Allen

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