Base of .com domain names: 2009 -- 86.0 million 2010 -- 93.7 million 2011 -- 101.6 million 2012 -- 108.5 million 2013 -- 114.3 million 2014 -- 119.0 million 2015 -- 126.6 million 2016 -- 131.3 million 2017 -- 135.0 million 2018 -- 142.0 million 2019 -- 145.4 million Verisign's price it charges per .com domain per year (keep in mind historically, Verisign has increased its prices at every opportunity permitted): 2009 - $6.42 2010 - $6.68 2011 - $7.34 2012 - $7.85 2013 - $7.85 2014 - $7.85 2015 - $7.85 2016 - $7.85 2017 - $7.85 2018 - $7.85 2019 - $7.85 Verisign's revenues: 2009 - $615,947,000 2010 - $680,578,000 2011 - $771,978,000 2012 - $873,592,000 2013 - $965,087,000 2014 - $1,010,117,000 2015 - $1,059,366,000 2016 - $1,142,167,000 2017 - $1,165,095,000 2018 - $1,214,969,000 2019 - $1,231,661,000 Verisign's costs to operate the registry: 2009 -- ($455,989,000) 2010 -- ($448,295,000) 2011 -- ($442,589,000) 2012 -- ($416,265,000) 2013 -- ($436,855,000) 2014 -- ($445,690,000) 2015 -- ($453,420,000) 2016 -- ($455,595,000) 2017 -- ($457,373,000) 2018 -- ($447,577,000) 2019 -- ($425,534,000) While wholesale .com prices have been capped at $7.85 since 2012 for consumer protection, Verisign's operating income has soared: 2009 - $159,958,000 2010 - $232,283,000 2011 - $329,389,000 2012 - $457,327,000 2013 - $528,232,000 2014 - $564,427,000 2015 - $605,946,000 2016 - $686,572,000 2017 - $707,722,000 2018 - $767,392,000 2019 - $806,127,000 Verisign's Net Income: 2009 - $87,931,000 2010 - $58,152,000 2011 - $141,141,000 2012 - $322,728,000 2013 - $323,953,000 2014 - $355,347,000 2015 - $374,241,000 2016 - $441,185,000 2017 - $457,760,000 2018 - $582,619,000 2019 - $612,489,000 Verisign employees fewer employees than ever before: 2009 - 1,100 2010 - 1,048 2011 - 1,009 2012 - 1,099 2013 - 1,079 2014 - 1,061 2015 - 1,019 2016 - 990 2017 - 952 2018 - 900 2019 - 872 Operating Margin: 2009 -- 26.0% 2010 -- 34.1% 2011 -- 42.7% 2012 -- 52.4% 2013 -- 54.7% 2014 -- 55.9% 2015 -- 57.2% 2016 -- 60.1% 2017 -- 60.7% 2018 -- 63.2% 2019 -- 65.5% With 69.6% non-GAAP operating margins and 65.5% GAAP operating margin in 2019 -- Verisign's financials are remarkable.  Why is any rate hike justified? Verisign is realizing the benefits of economies of scale on a growing base of domain names.  On top of a perpetual contract to operate the .com registry -- which excludes all forms of competition at the registry level. Competition ultimately benefits consumers -- and when ICANN is going in the opposite direction and allowing Verisign to increase its prices by 31% over the next 4 years -- it will result in a windfall of additional profits for Verisign -- without any justification. ICANN - what is your justification for price increases? -D