[Comments-info-renewal-18mar19] Proposed Renewal of .info Registry Agreement

[AT Domain Admin]

To whom it may concern

 

RE: PROPOSED RENEWAL OF .INFO REGISTRY AGREEMENT

 

The following has reference:

_________

Pricing for Domain Name Registrations and Registry Services (Section 2.10 of
the .info renewal agreement): In alignment with the base registry agreement,
the price cap provisions in the current .info agreement, which limited the
price of registrations and allowable price increases for registrations, are
removed from the .info renewal agreement. Protections for existing
registrants will remain in place in line with the base registry agreement.
This change will not only allow the .info 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 operators of new gTLDs and other legacy
gTLDs utilizing the base registry agreement.

_________

 

I strongly object to the removal of limitations in the price increase of new
.info domains, in fact I would much rather like to propose a subsidy or
reduction of 33% in the current price:

 

1. The .info TLD is a legacy TLD recognised internationally for trade and
business related information, and an essential commodity for small
businesses trying to break into international markets with the strong local
content focus of search enjins. Country TLDs merely limit business
opportunities to local markets via the most prominent search enjins, while
alternative international TLDs are often taken or prohibitively expensive.

2. The internet is slowly removing the barriers for international trade,
especially in Africa and other poorer counties, however currency exchange
rates remains an obstacle for entrepreneurs in countries with weak
currencies. The arrival of countless new TDL registrars have done nothing to
lower the entry barrier for entrepreneurs in poorer countries, who wish to
gain access to international markets. Some TLDs are priced above the monthly
rental fee for a shop in poor countries. By removing price increase
limitations, ICANN will merely exclude the poor from legal international
trade opportunities via the internet and fuel the smuggling of cheap
products and illegal substances into other markets.

3. If the international internet community really want to alleviate poverty
across the world, it should much rather consider removing trade barriers for
people in poorer countries. Subsidising an international trade TLD may be a
starting point.

4. Furthermore ICANN run the risk of being marginalized as an internet
authority with growing markets and populations seeking alternative and
cheaper internet solutions, and crossing over to the darknet. This pricing
proposal may be the last straw to break the camel's back for growing
markets.

 

I therefore reject the changes to price limitations.

 



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