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

[Comments-com-amendment-3-03jan20] Public comment about Proposed Amendment 3 to the .COM Registry Agreement
by Shane Chao Feb. 12, 2020

Feb. 12, 2020

To Whom It May Concern: I writing regarding the proposed contract with Verisign that would allow them to increase charges for .COM domain name registrations. I feel there needs to be more transparency and more definitive wording in the contract terms as to what Verisign may charge downstream registrars. I do realize the costs of administering domain names will naturally increase however, because the internet at its best is a shared resource, the pricing should not be granted to a single entity. Therefore, I am requesting review of the agreement between ICANN and Verisign as well as more an open and more public process in negotiating these types of agreements. Best regards, Shane Chao

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[Comments-com-amendment-3-03jan20] Do Not Agree With Proposed Amendment 3 to the .COM Registry
by Kolton Gagnon 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. As far as we know, in the digital economy digital assets reduce it's price year on year. Increasing them 30% in 4 years seems a bad joke. Kolton Gagnon, Canada Cheers, Kolton Gagnon

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[Comments-com-amendment-3-03jan20] Please stop raising .com price
by Daryl Adhitya Henry Feb. 12, 2020

Feb. 12, 2020

Seriously, right now my customer must pay $17.7, and it is already too high! Customer can see other site and the price said to be $9.99 / YEAR, then why I cost him more? Please, it is not make sense. It is raising almost or every year. Please lower the price again. I even feel bad for my customer. Thanks.

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[Comments-com-amendment-3-03jan20] Comments on ICANN Amendment 3-03Jan20
by solsante vicepresident Feb. 12, 2020

Feb. 12, 2020

Good Evening, It has come to my attention that ICANN has announced significant changes to the contract it has with Verisign, Inc. that will result in increased charges to organisations' costs to register their Top Level .COM Domain names. It has been suggested that wholesale prices could increase by 70% over the next decade. I am writing on behalf of The Sol Sante Club to express my dismay at this prospect. We are a non profit organisation staffed entirely on a volunteer basis and work very hard to contain all of our operating costs. I have little doubt that there are thousands of such organisations facing the same concern. The information provided to me was separated into 4 areas and I have commented on each of these below. 1. *Price Increases* As noted above these increases will place a significant burden on a Non Profit organisation and I would urge that consideration be given to this fact in structuring future price increases. 2. *Additional $20 Million* The information provided to me indicates that ICANN will receive an additional $20 million from Verisign Inc yet there is no information provided regarding how these funds will be used, why they are required or what kind of oversight, if any, will be implemented to ensure good use of the funds. This is simply poor business practice and is not at all aligned with the transparency you promote on your website with regards to your Privacy Policy. 3. *Verisign Inc. may now operate as a Domain Registrar* I understand that this change will now allow Verisign Inc. to have a significant degree of control over the pricing of Domain Name registration and the reduced number of competitors will potentially lead to higher prices to consumers. Not only does this seem unfair to the entire Domain Registrar business sector but, again, it is of great concern to non profit organisations such as The Sol Sante Club. 4. *Dismissal of Comments on Previous Price Changes* I understand that when similar changes were being made to other Domain Names, such as .ORG, .INFO and .BIZ, some 3,500 comments were submitted but ignored. In particular, a large number of comments were dismissed as "spam" solely because they were submitted via an online tool. That fact alone should not be sufficient reason to dismiss comments without further investigation as to their veracity. I also understand that this, in turn, resulted in the decision to remove the price caps primarily relying upon a biased preliminary analysis from 2009 by an economics professor that did not reference any data. Simply poor science / data collection / analysis and, again, poor business practice to reach a decision based on such poor and unsupported analysis. *IN SUMMARY*: I urge ICANN to review their position and revise their plans based on good business practice and defendable decisions while also considering the financial impact on non profit organisations. Kind Regards, *Tom Mitchell* *Vice President* *The Sol Sante Club*

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[Comments-com-amendment-3-03jan20] .Com Price Changes
by Tom Nguyen Feb. 12, 2020

Feb. 12, 2020

I read about what went on between ICANN and Verisign. I ask that you not allow Verisign to raise the prices of .com domain names. I am a freelance web designer and SEO who purchases domain names for my clients. I read that Verisign will be able to control the price of all .com domain names by 7% for the next few years. If they do this, the domain names will become unaffordable for my clients and perhaps myself. I am against this. I know Verisign will be paying you an extra $20 million over the next 5 years. Please don't sell out. Sincerely, Tom Nguyen Website Janitor, SEO Guy, and Head Burger Flipper *Website:* www.mrtechnique.com *Awards and Good S---:* https://www.mrtechnique.com/about-atlanta-web-design-company/press-mentions/ *Phone*: 404-236-9268 | *Fax:* 404-419-6730 *Social Media:* Twitter <http://www.twitter.com/mrtechnique> | LinkedIn <https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrtechnique/> | Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/mrtechnique> | Instagram <https://www.instagram.com/mr.technique>

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[Comments-com-amendment-3-03jan20] Proposed Amendment 3 to the .COM Registry Agreement
by Gerardo Ivan 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. Gerardo Jakarta, Jakarta Indonesia

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[Comments-com-amendment-3-03jan20] (no subject)
by Gianfranco Arfinengo Feb. 12, 2020

Feb. 12, 2020

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[Comments-com-amendment-3-03jan20] .com Registry Agreement
by Laura Casey Feb. 12, 2020

Feb. 12, 2020

Want to voice my displeasure learning ICANN would enter some agreement that will affect everyone without any public input. To increase costs arbitrarily will not be appreciated and the hue and cry will be wide-spread. I personally will share with all I interact with and ask them to do the same as it affects us all. I suggest ICANN looks seriously what the fall out may be and reconsider this action which most of us see no benefit and as greed because you think you can. I am forwarding the information to my government representatives for input as to what the implication will mean to many Americans.

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

Feb. 12, 2020

I strongly object to this proposal. In particular, the proposed 7% increase in the cost of .COM registry services is exorbitant. The cost increase should reflect the national inflation rate, at most. Peter Holtermann Wilmette, IL

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[Comments-com-amendment-3-03jan20] Verisign's 2019 Q4 operating margin was 63.9 percent...
by Miles Wolbe Feb. 12, 2020

Feb. 12, 2020

Verisign's 2019 Q4 operating margin was 63.9 percent, compared to 63.1 percent for the same quarter in 2018[1] (by contrast, Alphabet reported an operating margin of 20% for Q4 2019, down from 21% year on year[2]). Do they really need to raise prices with these kinds of margins? I oppose Amendment 3 to the .COM Registry Agreement. Aloha, Miles [1] https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200206005770/en/Verisign-Reports-F… [2] https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/20/02/15241002/alphabet-reports-mixe…

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[Comments-com-amendment-3-03jan20] New policy not in the best interest of .Com community
by Chimezie Unagwu Feb. 12, 2020

Feb. 12, 2020

I being a .Com domain name owner do agree that the the change in policy which will lead to an increase in cost of .com TLD is not in the best interest of .Com community and as such should be discontinued.

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[Comments-com-amendment-3-03jan20] Proposed rate increase.
by Jeff McMorris Feb. 12, 2020

Feb. 12, 2020

I am against any proposed rate increase for the .com domain registry. If their is no competition with verisign managing the .com database then they should not be able to raise rates at all. The domain registries should be setup As a non-profit. Thanks, Jeff McMorris Sent from my iPad

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[Comments-com-amendment-3-03jan20] It is terrible what you are doing ICANN
by Edith KIng Feb. 12, 2020

Feb. 12, 2020

Raising the prices on business with *.COM will negatively impact my business and many small businesses like might. Don’t do this terrible thing to small businesses. I am sure you can find another way. Sincerely, Edith King Sent from Mail<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for Windows 10

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[Comments-com-amendment-3-03jan20] Need for greater transparency on how $20 million is spent
by Paul Bellora Feb. 12, 2020

Feb. 12, 2020

The language of the agreement doesn't currently detail how the $20 million promised by Verisign will be allocated by ICANN or justify why that amount was agreed. Greater transparency is needed because otherwise this has the appearance of a shady backroom deal.

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[Comments-com-amendment-3-03jan20] Opposing
by Wale Mojeed Feb. 12, 2020

Feb. 12, 2020

I oppose amendment 3. Keep the price at 7.25. Before any proposed increases, release detailed cost report on running a DNS database and justify that cost. Thank you.

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[Comments-com-amendment-3-03jan20] Please don't raise .com fee
by James Reynolds Feb. 12, 2020

Feb. 12, 2020

Please don't raise the .com fee. If you must, it shouldn't be raised more than the rate of inflation. James Reynolds

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[Comments-com-amendment-3-03jan20] .Com Price Increase
by Camille Skye Feb. 12, 2020

Feb. 12, 2020

I will not claim to understand why the .com price increase is considered necessary. But I do know that a 7% annual increase is extreme. Most businesses consider anything exceeding a 3% increase per year for any service to be excessive. This will not be sustainable for many individuals and businesses. Further, this is not moral or equitable considering that the internet should be accessible to all, including the right to post content and create websites. Sent from Mail for Windows 10

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[Comments-com-amendment-3-03jan20] Dot Com Price Increases
by Taylor Rubart Feb. 12, 2020

Feb. 12, 2020

ICANN, I oppose the proposed pricing increase for Dot Com domains, because it slows business growth and innovation, and prevents businesses from making investments in ideas. It should be cheap to purchase a domain and host a website, to do business. Thank you, Taylor Rubart

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[Comments-com-amendment-3-03jan20] My Opinion on the Proposed .Com Price Increase
by Markus Giesen Feb. 12, 2020

Feb. 12, 2020

To whom it may concern, raising the prices of .COMs, virtually a commodity that should decrease in price if anything is something we are heavily opposed to. This is an irrational path to take and I ask you to take not of this email as a sign of protest against it. Kind Regards, Markus Giesen Chief Product Officer ------------------------------ m: o: +61 425 728 992 (AU) +1 833 293 9013 (US) rendernetworks.com [image: LinkedIn] <https://www.linkedin.com/in/markusgiesen> [image: Twitter] <https://twitter.com/markusgiesen> [image: Facebook] <https://www.facebook.com/Rendernetworks1/> [image: Podcast] <https://rendernetworks.com/%20https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/render-…> PROUD TO BE ONE OF [image: Broadband Communites Banner] <https://resources.rendernetworks.com/bbb-top-100-ftth-companies>[image: Deloitte Logo Banner] <https://www2.deloitte.com/au/en/pages/technology-media-and-telecommunicatio…> LEARN MORE [image: Podcast Thumbnail] <https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/5136250/Business%20Development_2019/Videos/I…>

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[Comments-com-amendment-3-03jan20] objection of price increase of .com domains
by yau keung Shiu Feb. 12, 2020

Feb. 12, 2020

Dear Sir, I disagree with the significant price increase of .com domains. People will discontinue to use .com domains if they are not affordable to pay. Please consider protecting the rights of the customers who have been supporting the growth of the Internet for the past years. Vincent Shiu Hong Kong

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[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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