On what basis are the proposed price increases to be allowed? Do the .COM domains incur higher administrative costs? Will Verisign provide better service to domain registrars? Based on recent consumer price inflation of about 2% per year, a 7% yearly increase in wholesale domain prices can only be seen as a means to extract more revenue from the ultimate domain consumers, i.e., the website owners, without adding *any* value for registrars or domain owners, but simply to add 7% per year to Verisign's bottom line. I understand that, under the proposal, the new contract between ICANN and Verisign will entail the former will receive an extra $20 million over five years from the latter. This sounds as scandalous as a utility regulator receving a bribe from a utility company in order to induce the regulator to approve a rate increase. I oppose the proposed amendment. I also wonder why is Verisign allowed to act as a .COM wholesale domain provider, while still acting as a domain registrar. It is analogous to the FCC granting special privileges to some company to act as wholesale radio-TV or other spectrum "provider", while still being allowed to compete with the other companies not granted that privilege, i.e., on an unequal basis. Sincerely, Joe Abbate FreedomCircle.com webmaster