I am one of the "ancient denizens" of the Internet, having created the second private domain,
42nd overall domain (octopus.com)
I'm astounded that ICANN would even consider allowing for unrestrained domain registration
prices on the foundational TLD's of the 'net (COM, NET, ORG, INFO, BIZ). (Yes, I include BIZ and
INFO because they were created to relieve name pressure on COM/NET/ORG.)
Others have articulated this reasonably well, so I will just summarize:
I. While many new "vanity" TLD's do provide a competitive opportunity
for branding and naming
(in a presumably competitive market), the same can NOT be said across the board.
Why?
1) Any organization that wishes to own a "home" on the 'net is *required* to register
a domain name. It is our online address.
2) Baseline domain names should be stable over time
. It doesn't matter if...
-- nonprofit (I have *.ORG, *.NET and other such domains)...
-- for-profit (I have *.COM, *.US, etc) or even
-- personal (I have *.US, *.INFO, etc)
The result of variable pricing is obvious:
people MUST consider changing domain names
if their existing name becomes too costly over time.
Result: Internet instability. Old links no longer working. Archives useless...
3) We have NO alternatives if we want to remain viable and stable.
Each TLD is operated
by a single organization.
-- To retain an Internet address, I must pay
whatever the underlying registrar charges.
II. Clearly, TLD domain registries are monopolies.
.. and should be regulated as such.
-- In fact,
they should be viewed as a public service
-- ICANN should contract with whoever will provide
best TLD service
at lowest cost!
-- Over time,
I expect prices to *decrease*, not increase.
-- Over time,
I expect improved ability to retain existing domain registrations at *lower* cost,
with *improved* ability to work around any renewal hiccups.
-- Stewardship of foundational TLD's should be in the hands of dedicated *service*
entities, committed to serving well at minimum cost.
III. Increased prices, and reduced stability, are marks of failure...
...
not effective competition!
This is an aside, yet important:
-- Many libraries are eliminating most "overdue" fines, noting that they do not accomplish the
desired goal.
-- Communicating with the borrow accomplishes much more
-- Charging the cost of a lost book accomplishes the cost-recovery purpose
-- The same is true in domain renewal.
-- Registrars could provide long and increasing-over-time grace periods for renewal for
domains
-- It costs nothing to retain an inactive domain in the database!
What I observe today is the opposite:
squatters easily steal existing domain names, and hold
them hostage hoping to gain a windfall. That's unethical.
(Example: due to a serious medical event, I failed to renew a domain on time. I was
hospitalized, then recovering... Only a month later, it would cost me $3,000 to purchase from a
squatter. I can't afford that, so I changed the name.)
IV. Suggestion: TWO baseline agreements are needed
* ICANN should recognize the difference between registry-as-service and registry-as-marketplace
* Long-existing TLD's, that have existed for decades, should be recognized as public trust
"service" rather than "marketplace"
* Service TLD's could have certain restrictions similar to what is provided with geographic TLD's
(eg .US)
-- Associated with a named individual or entity
* Additional rules aimed at stability would also be helpful
-- Minimum registration of multiple years
-- Ability to register for more than a decade at low cost (this helps everyone concerned!)
Bottom line: ICANN, will you do the right thing and stand up for the public interest?
Many blessings as you work through these challenges,
Pete Holzmann
PeteH at OctopusEnt.us
719 - 785 - 0120