I am writing to let you know I oppose the rate increases for .com domains proposed by ICANN. I am a freelance writer, making my entire living by bringing in clients through my web presence. I make a modest living, under $50k per year. I own two domains—one for my freelance work, and one for my authorial work. My business has no budget; I am the business. A regular hike in .com domains will affect my ability to pay my bills, and might force me to cancel my domains, making me lose clients and income. Most of my clients are web-based as well, and this will hit their bottom lines, also affecting my income. ICANN is meant to encourage competition, but it has become a monopoly. The internet has become a public trust, and must be protected as such. Repeated price hikes spell the death of information. Signed, Elizabeth Rubio rubioedits.com rubiowrites.com