[Comments-com-amendment-3-03jan20] Proposed Amendment 3 to the .COM Registry Agreement

[Bradley Hodges]

First, thank you to Cyrus Namazi and the ranking members of Global Domains Division for the opportunity to provide comment on the proposed Amendment 3 to the .COM Registry Agreement.

Advena recognises the significant importance of maintaining an open, inclusive and diverse internet. ICANN, which has a critical role to play in empowering this connectivity, has historically demonstrated its commitment to this idea; the idea that the internet should be accessible, and embrace all positions - including, of course, the idea that on the internet, everyone’s voice is equal.

The proposed amendment does not pass this test. Amendment 3 would introduce deeply concerning questions surrounding the integrity and motivations of ICANN. The presently proposed Amendment 3 includes a $2M support deal, but no clarification on how these funds will be used, and how these funds may benefit the community as a whole. It seeks to damage the ease of free expression with TLD price increases.

This amendment projects to the world that concerns relating to operations of TLDs are only notably addressed when money is a motivator.

Conclusively, and without shame, the amendment stands to confront the diversity of ideas and information on the internet, and if passed as it reads today, introduces uncertain questions surrounding the future of occupants on the .COM TLD.

When incredible, talented people are not able to easily and affordably express their ideas on the internet, everyone loses.

Advena does not support the Proposed Amendment 3 to the .COM Registry Agreement.