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

[Comments-com-amendment-3-03jan20] Keep .COMs Accessible and Affordable
by Brittany Norris Feb. 11, 2020

Feb. 11, 2020

Please keep .Com's affordable and accessible. The steps you're taking limit creativity and participation on the internet. Not to mention it seems like y'all did this below radar. Not cool. --- Brittany Norris Graphic Designer & Digital Director

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[Comments-com-amendment-3-03jan20] Stop raising rates
by Anthony Codispoti Feb. 11, 2020

Feb. 11, 2020

This is a cash grab at the expense of EVERYONE who uses the internet. Your costs aren’t increasing that much. So please stop making the Internet more expensive for everyone else to use. Think about all of the small businesses, and independent contractors. Every extra dollar in your pocket comes out of someone else’s pocket who is struggling to make ends meet. __________________ Anthony V. Codispoti

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[Comments-com-amendment-3-03jan20] Please Stop increasing .com Prices
by EasyHacksForYou Feb. 11, 2020

Feb. 11, 2020

Hi, This is Zubair Ashraf. A common man, who is using .com domain names to share his knowledge with world & to help people. Most of the world & people are not that rich who can afford such prices already. Barely, they can pay the prices are now. But if you guys increase the prices. It will be impossible to be online with legal & right names. It will be tough for us to help people & make difference in lives. Hope you guys understand our problems, & Stop this increase in price. Regards, EasyHacksForYou.com Zubair Ashraf

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[Comments-com-amendment-3-03jan20] Domain price increase
by Kevin Wilson Feb. 11, 2020

Feb. 11, 2020

I am a registrant of a .com domain name. I am against the proposed price increase to .COM domains. The current rate of $7.85 is already far more than justified. ICANN is supposed to govern the domain name system in the public interest. Kevin Wilson Toronto, ON, Canada

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[Comments-com-amendment-3-03jan20] Maintain price controls
by Sandy BV Feb. 11, 2020

Feb. 11, 2020

I disagree with your recent deal and your uncontrollable price increase. You must include in your decision making everything involved in the process of using the domains. You can't increase the price so much; to cannot accept donations that are really purchasing your actions and you must be clear in the use of any monies in a way that benefit the community and not the pockets of your management. Cordially, Sandra Bollo

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[Comments-com-amendment-3-03jan20] I oppose to the 3rd .COM ammendment proposal
by Cristian Feb. 11, 2020

Feb. 11, 2020

I find it unfair that the .COM property prices increase. This will lead to an even more unequal internet, where domain inflation will push content creation of individuals out an ever more centralized internet. -- Cristian E. Duguet

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[Comments-com-amendment-3-03jan20] Verisign and ICANN deal is a bum deal for me
by Jerry Hammack Feb. 11, 2020

Feb. 11, 2020

To whom it may concern, Last month, you announced significant changes to the contract you have with Verisign, Inc. who operate the .COM top-level-domain (TLD). These changes were made in secret, without consulting or incorporating feedback from the ICANN community or Internet users. It appears these changes will harm our consumers given that .COM domains make up 40% of all registered domain names online. Allowing Verisign to increase the wholesale price to registrars for .COM domains every year for 8 out of the next 10 years means that .COM wholesale domain prices can grow by more than 70% over and above current prices over the next decade. These costs will have to be borne by consumers in the end. That means me. And for what? The contract also allows for other price increases, which could drive prices up further, ultimately making .COM domains less accessible and more expensive for everybody. It is alarming that alongside these contract changes, Verisign will pay ICANN an additional $20 million dollars over five years to support ICANN's domain name system initiatives, without any clarity about how ICANN will spend the money, or who will ensure that the funds are properly spent on domain infrastructure. These changes will have significant impact on the Internet and my small business for years to come. You have not consulted your .COM customers at all prior to making this deal, which will have a huge, negative impact on numerous businesses. Please reconsider this deal, the price increases that are bound to be passed to consumers, and do the right thing for the Internet community by striking a balance between profit and service. Don't be greedy and don't allow Verisign to be either. Sincerely, Jerry Hammack -- +++-------------------------+++ Jerry Hammack a: 25 The Esplanade, Suite 1704 Toronto, ON, Canada M5E 1W5 p: 416-977-8503 c: 416-400-7630 e: jer(a)jerryhammack.com

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[Comments-com-amendment-3-03jan20] Don't go ahead please!!
by Joe Burrill Feb. 11, 2020

Feb. 11, 2020

*This amendment is a bad idea, Increasing prices of .coms by 70% over 10 years is a joke and is clearly a money grab. Don't go ahead!* I agree with all of the points Namecheap have highlighted in their article: There are four main concerns with ICANN’s decision: 1. 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. 2. 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. 3. 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 and 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. Cheers Joe

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[Comments-com-amendment-3-03jan20] Outrageous
by D. Michael Enfield Feb. 11, 2020

Feb. 11, 2020

Your deal with Verisign is outrageous. I am directing my Congressman to initiate an inquiry. D. Michael Enfield 526 Westgate Drive Napa, CA 94558 415-341-5880 Tel 810-561-6240 Fax

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[Comments-com-amendment-3-03jan20] Proposed Amendment 3 to the.COM Registry Agreement
by Gene Madison Feb. 11, 2020

Feb. 11, 2020

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