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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Hi,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Namecheap.com tells me that you are looking to raise domain renewal rates, possibly by 70% or more over the next ten years. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>They also tell me that Verisign agreed to pay you $20 million dollars so that they could raise prices as they desire.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Something smells here…… I wonder if president Trump could do anything about this? Does the news know about this?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Please DO NOT DO IT! The note from Namecheap is shown below.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thank you.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Michael Kleypas<br></span><u><span style='color:#1F497D'><a href="http://www.xlhelp.com/"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>www.</span><b><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:green'>XL</span></i></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>HELP.com</span></a></span></u><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border:solid #E8E8E8 1.0pt'><tr><td valign=top style='border:none;border-top:solid #8BC1C1 6.0pt;padding:31.5pt 42.0pt 42.0pt 42.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:blue'><img border=0 width=172 height=32 id="_x0000_i1025" src="https://mktg.namecheap.com/master/marketing/standard/logo/Namecheap-Logo_wt_tsp_344x64px.png" alt=Namecheap></span><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr><td valign=top style='border:none;padding:0in 42.0pt 42.0pt 42.0pt;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%' id=modBody><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:30.0pt;line-height:28.5pt'><b><span style='font-size:24.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:#6D6F70'>Help Us Avoid .COM Price Increases<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=copy-181><span style='font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:#666261'>Hi there!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=copy-16-lt1><span style='font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:#666261'>We have important information to share with you that will affect the price of your .COM domains.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=copy-181><span style='font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:#666261'>What's happening?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=copy-161><span style='font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:#666261'>Last month, ICANN, the organization that oversees domain names, announced significant changes to the contract it has with Verisign, Inc. who operate the .COM top-level-domain (TLD).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=copy-16-lt1><span style='font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:#666261'>ICANN made these changes in secret, without consulting or incorporating feedback from the ICANN community or Internet users. Although ICANN has a history of making similar deals behind closed doors, and also of ignoring unified opposition against such action, we are focused on leading the fight against price increases that will harm our customers (and the Internet as a whole). This is a crucial time to raise our voices given that <strong><span style='font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'>.COM domains make up 40% of all registered domain names online</span></strong>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=copy-181><span style='font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:#666261'>What does this change mean?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=copy-161><span style='font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:#666261'>Wholesale registries charge Namecheap a set fee per domain name per year. According to this new agreement, Verisign will be allowed to increase the wholesale price to registrars for .COM domains every year for 8 out of the next 10 years, and the increases don’t stop there.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=copy-16-lt1><span style='font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:#666261'>This will mean that<strong><span style='font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'> .COM wholesale domain prices can grow by more than 70% over and above current prices over the next decade</span></strong>. 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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=copy-181><span style='font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:#666261'>Why is ICANN doing this?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=copy-16-lt1><span style='font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:#666261'>Alongside these contract changes, <strong><span style='font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'>Verisign agreed to pay ICANN an additional $20 million dollars over five years to support</span></strong> 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. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=copy-181><span style='font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:#666261'>So, what can you do to help?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=copy-161><span style='font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:#666261'>These changes will have significant impact on the Internet for years to come, and only ICANN and Verisign have participated in this decision. If you want to make sure your voice is heard, let ICANN know how you feel about their recent decision. <strong><span style='font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'>The <a href="http://mailtrackemailout1.namecheap.com/ls/click?upn=QqNWTFdMeHiLPmRAI5EzI5fbU6DPE0mJW-2BXcKtZZa6QFJ7BibIXg72G-2B7iMmUhH59pyLHPXkTVw4z-2B93U7aW-2FPhPsW-2FCooRB1xRnbBuwOuN7eP9W-2BGabsa4zuE75Qhuo8HoUSh6-2FeDKkvB49PqZG-2Br9sJsoknYdRfhP-2BaRcRgZ3k4sr6mQGV1WLfbe78jYmFzgxOQF6gX28V81d2NZj96dWv7MMNeCHYqbvhCpRgUckTwV8n4mbK9EJn80iUxYXAvCbuE4Ozmh7hyC7oEiRwpz5BoSsNZMKf4YQSu7RKYMZXzQ2Y5mPJeUOF5KFra-2Bz3adiktsr0UfnVS4L-2BMJTJ-2FsiAlBq-2BBO8gMyZqQfqb2Guy7CmXtDvs3B6j5s-2Bb6QC5aF-2FjNopJFpcdorLaUazhrU-2BdE6tGhr-2FoYTksjPtvzfqzpER-2B8Y6ljl66zDymHIS-2F8hCrAfVp-2B6et9zLU4x19Wke0LdP-2FGk73M2FoxUPh5ts7okxc3vvHlyZFqHi5-2FUKGiT3aJE8sYRLU3sOb-2FFXiBREkxvkfrRM9n6-2B8-2FLo2t1zdpZCsdt1aBpJ0dEhkSzOxlrZ0DQF2yyuN8IlSf6vJJatY-2BsrNApMjqeyZ7euH8mxKT-2BcL-2FMQsHC0AfHnhhycL1naf7ZBQJHTQ9a6hz6-2BNKjVEXhnJYydWhFyPlPVapjF3IhR-2BmKrpmad7991cZPrgnxgWlD6MqG-2BljpZjVgbLWKy6Q7G7jSzT-2BJGMdWd4Lps-3D8y9W_HZBM11Hb9N4hdSyxR3dqwdQJ5YvsFwpGHyO-2FvgQTWGI0u43WcUEekZeQ9K-2BjDSNley71X67jtandLjvtsqU4fe7CIuB3HFZPNka-2FK8IN4850jypNTs3sefYTh075E-2BOE0shoFQ9-2FbiHIJi9znNJnpa8iJTPun6lqdsOsEMa9fWp7FmKJ1aez7XkVNpNHUpMW-2FNZZYM7yzb5tF3bCG7vBljQrMlLSL506eRmTz0ZHikMFPNl1LIfkKU9aJygnNHVCk2rTLeKr8EM-2FQ5wKUxEskawfJ-2FqGAV7bJ-2Bzw4riMdqo1NvzBkwTTyW7CyknFzBLFwGY2TdEcxiLZUjPbcW-2FN2nL-2FcmAFTb4pIIqvBwawfbxcJbKFJs2Ob2kpM-2BSK14LH" target="_blank"><span style='color:#F14722'>Public Comment period</span></a> is open until February 14, 2020.</span></strong><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=copy-16-lt1><span style='font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:#666261'>You can leave your comment on the .COM proposal <a href="http://mailtrackemailout1.namecheap.com/ls/click?upn=QqNWTFdMeHiLPmRAI5EzI5fbU6DPE0mJW-2BXcKtZZa6QFJ7BibIXg72G-2B7iMmUhH59pyLHPXkTVw4z-2B93U7aW-2FPhPsW-2FCooRB1xRnbBuwOuN7eP9W-2BGabsa4zuE75Qhuo8HoUSh6-2FeDKkvB49PqZG-2Br9sJsoknYdRfhP-2BaRcRgZ3k4sr6mQGV1WLfbe78jYmFzgxOQF6gX28V81d2NZj96dWv7MMNeCHYqbvhCpRgUckTwV8n4mbK9EJn80iUxYXAVgSxc7r6H3fUC-2BpK8ebiNkrGlildzAG6R6n-2F-2Fc887AiePHlIrxlRQHFruDqRlkjHZFgsZwILlCK2YyWFRtQQtFo07wFQ-2FCZuxejgugwRABE-2BuASjbdvQdFCu19IMLyERvFR-2B9JuDCd0eP4pNi9xv24UfIX24e0Xq0eANzauF6pREtRwb0sg4p-2Bnk1j083726npON5VKwMl2i5AKIvPXvFf6yBZkUpqxxikrWfIcyAfEEfLhhAQBambaQKcMBrkd7hBfA0gz3BsqF7D1-2FnUQqaUWgwW17Kp4X8qLnDAZliH7BHe3kndYNaQDnb2x-2FSR0LVjbkaL8Q0Vd3sOGTvie4PasU40K-2BRCHluhe4HbXsQj615pRrKCzYxsjPDcMXLCxIMhQDbt7rJBoo1LuB4PXVQyzcxZf07n6cnyvIfPdFEyqV8vADehAC9TyYaEGKirkJvcE9-2FtVdLCPa2S6DPrrpg3uE9IRXUFD9tNpGvzFLjwM-3DtRaS_HZBM11Hb9N4hdSyxR3dqwdQJ5YvsFwpGHyO-2FvgQTWGI0u43WcUEekZeQ9K-2BjDSNley71X67jtandLjvtsqU4fe7CIuB3HFZPNka-2FK8IN4850jypNTs3sefYTh075E-2BOE0shoFQ9-2FbiHIJi9znNJnpa8iJTPun6lqdsOsEMa9fWp7FmKJ1aez7XkVNpNHUpMW-2FNZZYM7yzb5tF3bCG7vBljQrMlLSL506eRmTz0ZHikO4LmbAx-2Bfrpll9bePFYfH-2FxJM7hdano96i6y-2F5gi07eCW4D-2Brvdg5Z-2FhdphfgCYNTkYchk3cUUQ577Sq2X3UuKqlNzi1W-2FBIY4DQCix6yElQwukoHk0332Tpus4SaVxsBf4LbWKYLwH7xD17VLFzcs" target="_blank"><span style='color:#F14722'>using ICANN's form</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style='-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%'><tr><td style='background:#F14722;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-border-radius: 4px;-moz-border-radius: 4px;border-radius: 4px'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><a href="http://mailtrackemailout1.namecheap.com/ls/click?upn=QqNWTFdMeHiLPmRAI5EzI5fbU6DPE0mJW-2BXcKtZZa6QFJ7BibIXg72G-2B7iMmUhH59pyLHPXkTVw4z-2B93U7aW-2FPhPsW-2FCooRB1xRnbBuwOuN7eP9W-2BGabsa4zuE75Qhuo8HoUSh6-2FeDKkvB49PqZG-2Br9sJsoknYdRfhP-2BaRcRgZ1-2F-2FELgpPO5DkJHExewO4VSivVfHUTeQg0eh1VEAzcw3MNcKk-2BKnnWZ-2BXZ9hnU1CueOgzh06YllTdM4ph-2BY7KhbblsFx1wvuxwrIhZB96XXM2DufEq-2BnwO7AvK2ZtUVDn6d2LP-2Bd4lGwG7jA96cnmzXwH9I8SpYyhEugzbiummzmJLNfDO0UoVLnUohuBa7KYAXu5g6YjUYpHFYMaBOtq-2BdUNBub64MPR1qeKjo3PUajO-2F4zpZwO7Jz-2BTl-2BGyHcX9M2Jpw9MBJa0UVM71HYYjEQIwfcvBz9vtaZbyBqaI5DzW3i7tzk9Fvv5wyjaNWVevWQ4FNXzmsB8k6UW-2FOWvQZeD8-2FxUbcWvKdkBnNL14sHcqfe0rWOEPRxuXrjTEkUndO83LOAhbw-2FY4-2FY1qEmhzPPIkzpchTqy8MqQ710TSJSrBu22VcgELzacu-2BFGvk0-2Bl5WlG2NgAlxYX66hruOOZjfMC7EzinUkHii538gtf7iIY5MeJDnfK5JACaZMCi8Y8lJ7rpwEiFjJxIUrqb-2FVnqjY5xbzSIGRrMMt1lRGrt00CinNeGIPlhopc6PnRwHPxtVTjc-2FXH91-2FitfwXEstXjRsazb_HZBM11Hb9N4hdSyxR3dqwdQJ5YvsFwpGHyO-2FvgQTWGI0u43WcUEekZeQ9K-2BjDSNley71X67jtandLjvtsqU4fe7CIuB3HFZPNka-2FK8IN4850jypNTs3sefYTh075E-2BOE0shoFQ9-2FbiHIJi9znNJnpa8iJTPun6lqdsOsEMa9fWp7FmKJ1aez7XkVNpNHUpMW-2FNZZYM7yzb5tF3bCG7vBljQrMlLSL506eRmTz0ZHikOzhccgwOLbuoLBWkVX6zQgp-2F6IDSMI3evO70JfIeNVus1ALfI2JsfWbzg1EmbrHBe69uxC7X2IMBfL5CwXy8MazSeq-2FwmYW8Wpeja8fnmKPdOJQ52PsO8WQEBmXpk1s3KKGiReI6FVN5ZRc0-2F9GGfo" target="_blank"><b><span style='font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:white;border:solid #F14722 1.0pt;padding:9.0pt'>Find Out More</span></b></a><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>