I run a small web design and marketing consulting business serving other small businesses and nonprofits. I help these organizations by building and maintaining websites based primarily on .COM and .ORG TLD's. Securing a domain on these TLD's has historically been a very easy and affordable part of building an organization's online presence. However, it seems that the organizations that should be looking out for the best interests of the Internet community to continue that ease and affordability are giving in to greed that will make it difficult for small businesses. First, it was discouraging to learn of the Internet Society's (ISOC) proposed sale of the Public Interest Registry (PIR), including management of the .ORG TLD, to private equity firm Ethos Capital, and of ICAAN's tepid response to protests to the sale. This action could cause real harm to the multitude of nonprofit organizations doing great good in the world. Then to learn of ICAAN's contract changes with Verisign impacting the .COM domain on the heels of this demonstrates a disturbing trend among the governing bodies of the Internet that seems to be motivated by pure greed. The fact that Verisign will be allowed to increase prices as much as 70% over the next ten years, will also be allowed to operate as a registrar itself, and that they have agreed to pay ICAAN an extra $20 million dollars over the next five years seems like a major conflict of interest from both parties. These changes do not benefit the hundreds of thousands of small businesses that depend on .COM domains. Before sealing this deal, I hope ICAAN will consider the ethics of such an arrangement and remember the community that it serves. Sincerely Dave Webb