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@jerryhammack.com