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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-ZA link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>To whom it may concern<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b>RE: PROPOSED RENEWAL OF .ORG REGISTRY AGREEMENT<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The following has reference:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>_________<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-ZA'>Pricing for Domain Name Registrations and Registry Services (Section 2.10 of the .org renewal agreement):</span></b><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-ZA'> In alignment with the base registry agreement, the price cap provisions in the current .org agreement, which limited the price of registrations and allowable price increases for registrations, are removed from the .org renewal agreement. Protections for existing registrants will remain in place, in line with the base registry agreement. This change will not only allow the .org renewal agreement to better conform with the base registry agreement, but also takes into consideration the maturation of the domain name market and the goal of treating the Registry Operator equitably with registry operators of new gTLDs and other legacy gTLDs utilizing the base registry agreement .<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>_________<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I strongly object to the removal of limitations in the price increase of new .org domains, in fact I would much rather like to propose a subsidy or reduction of 50% in the current price, or alternatively an international sponsorship for the necessary resources to manage a TLD registration service for non-profit organizations:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>1. The .org TLD is a legacy TLD recognised internationally for countless organizations, and an essential commodity for organizations trying to network internationally. Country TLDs merely limit organizations to network with local markets via the most prominent search enjins, while alternative international TLDs are often taken or prohibitively expensive.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>2. The internet is slowly removing the barriers for organizations to network internationally, especially in Africa and other poorer counties, however currency exchange rates remains an obstacle for non-profit and other organizations in countries with weak currencies. The arrival of countless new TDL registrars have done nothing to lower the entry barrier for organizations in poorer countries, who wish to gain access to international support. Some TLDs are priced above the monthly rental fee for an office in poor countries. By removing price increase limitations, ICANN will merely exclude the poor from the much needed international support they so desperately need and fuel poverty driven diseases and hardships.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>3. If the international internet community really want to alleviate poverty across the world, it should much rather consider better networking opportunities for people in poorer countries. Subsidising an international organization related TLD may be a starting point, or alternatively the service should be outsourced to an organization in country where the income from domain registrations can contribute to the alleviation of poverty.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I therefore reject the changes to price limitations.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Ref: <a href="https://www.icann.org/public-comments#open-public">https://www.icann.org/public-comments#open-public</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div id="DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2">
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