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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Hello,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> I would just like to weigh in on the proposed amendment by saying that allowing Verisign to raise fees of 7% year on year for the period 2020-2023, and again from 2026-2029. Although Verisign has pledged to provide ICANN with $20 million, there is a complete lack of transparency of how the money will be used, and furthermore, how much Verisign will stand to profit from the exchange in return. In essence, as a .com domain name holder, I see absolutely no benefit to this plan at all. Don’t get me wrong, I have no problem with fees increasing to keep pace with inflation, support innovation, and to benefit the internet community. However, the 7% price hike is not aligned with inflation (being over 3.5 times the 2019 US inflation rate of 1.81%), nor, as mentioned before, any clear reason for the hike.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Unfortunately, the only clear outcome I can see for this move is negative press, and decreased confidence of the internet community in general in ICANN’s position and capability to independently and competently manage the domain names for which it is currently responsible. This loss of confidence would be a serious loss for the internet community as a whole, and most certainly outweigh any short-term benefits gained from the $20 million promised by Verisign.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Cordially,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Jeremy Warren<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>