VeriSign to Control .Com Until 2012

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Commerce has approved a deal between VeriSign and ICANN that gives the Mountain View, Calif.-based company continued control over the lucrative .com top-level domain until 2012.

The deal, which was hammered out by representatives from ICANN and VeriSign in March, went to the Commerce Department for approval. Although ICANN has moved toward independence, the Commerce Department retains oversight authority for the Marina del Ray, Calif.-based organization that oversees the Internet’s address infrastructure.

Under the terms of the deal, VeriSign will continue to administer the .com TLD until 2012, but the Commerce Department will need to give final approval to any proposed price hikes.

The contract gives VeriSign the right to raise prices in four of the six contract years. But increases are capped at 7 percent in any one year, and the company must give six months notice before raising the price.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration, an agency within the Department of Commerce, which handled the deal on the behalf of the U.S. government, said VeriSign’s contract would only be renewed after 2012, “if the approval will serve the public interest.”

The .com TLD is by far the most popular on the Internet. There currently are 59 million domains registered which use the suffix.

In the months leading up to the agreement, ICANN was criticized for allowing VeriSign to administer the .com TLD for so long. The company has handled .com since 1999.

Network Solutions Vice President Jonathan Nevett said VeriSign shouldn’t get automatic contract renewals, pointing out that the company was well on the way to establishing a permanent monopoly on the popular TLD. He also was critical of what he called lapses in VeriSign security.

Officials at VeriSign said the deal should address criticism leveled at ICANN while continuing to strengthen the growth of the Internet.

“The registry operator framework ICANN has adopted and embodied in the .com agreement strengthens the security and stability of the Internet relied on by hundreds of millions of people around the globe,” VeriSign Vice President Mark McLaughlin said. “This framework holds operators accountable for their performance, promotes the continued investment of tens of millions of dollars in the infrastructure and provides important safeguards for consumers.”

Copyright © 2024 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Braindance Unveils '6DOF' VR Tech

Interactive virtual reality platform Braindance has debuted its new Six Degrees of Freedom (6DOF) VR technology.

Kiiroo, Pineapple Support Launch 'Empower Hour' Series on FeelHubX YouTube Channel

Kiiroo and Pineapple Support have teamed up to launch the “Empower Hour” series on the FeelHubX YouTube channel.

Kansas Law Firm Deploys Religion, Bunk Science While Recruiting Plaintiffs Under AV Law

Kansas-based personal injury law firm Mann Wyatt Tanksley is promoting debunked scientific theories and leveraging religious affiliation against the industry while it seeks potential plaintiffs for lawsuits against adult companies under the state’s age verification law.

UK Tech Secretary Lists Age Verification Among OSA Priorities

Peter Kyle, the U.K.’s Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, on Wednesday made public a draft version of his priorities for implementing the Online Safety Act (OSA), including age verification.

AEBN Publishes Popular Seraches by Country for September, October

AEBN has released its list of popular searches from its straight and gay theaters in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Avery Jane Featured on 'Adult Time Podcast'

Avery Jane is the latest guest on the “Adult Time Podcast,” hosted by studio CCO Bree Mills.

FSC: Kansas Law Firm Threatens Adult Site Over Age Verification

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has been notified that Kansas law firm Mann Wyatt Tanksley has sent a letter threatening an adult website with a lawsuit for breaking the state's age verification law.

10th Circuit Rejects Final FSC Appeal in Utah AV Case

The United States Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit on Monday rejected a motion by Free Speech Coalition (FSC) requesting that the full court rehear its appeal in Free Speech Coalition v. Anderson, the industry trade association’s challenge to Utah’s age verification law.

Trump Nominates Project 2025 Contributor, Section 230 Foe to Chair FCC

President-elect Donald Trump has nominated, as his pick to head the Federal Communications Commission, Brendan Carr — an author of Project 2025 who has called for gutting Section 230 protections.

Streamate's Elevate Partners With Miss Mei on Decriminalization Initiative

Streamate’s Elevate initiative is debuting a November collaboration with creator and community advocate Miss Mei that will highlight the modern criminalization of sex work.

Show More