[registrars] How best to resolve it?

[Robert F. Connelly]

Dear ICANN:

It is so hard to comment on the proposed and/or revised-proposed settlement.

Not because there is a lack of issues, but because there are so very many 
issues.

With all due respect, I personally cannot fathom how intelligent, success 
oriented businessmen can think these proposals are good for ICANN, any of 
the constituencies, the Internet and the general public.

How could ICANN have granted an extension of the .NET Registry contract to 
Verisign, while at the same time embroiled in contentious litigation with 
Verisign?  How, unless ICANN is so timid that it fears to confront Verisign.

And how could ICANN have granted the .NET extension based upon a 25% 
*reduction* in registration fees for a substantially smaller Registry and 
then agree to the escalations of registration fees for the much larger .COM 
Registry.  Certainly everyone making these decisions has heard of "the 
economies of scale"!!!

Still further, is not ICANN laying itself open for anti-trust litigation 
for granting what appears to be a perpetual monopoly "license" with 
*escalating* fees while everything in our industry is subject to declining 
prices due to technological innovation and competitive pressures?

It is hard to believe that we have any idea of the "big 
picture".  Certainly there must be hidden elements which are pushing 
intelligent officials to make a bad deal for itself  -- and for it 
subordinate entities.  It is not only the registrars who will be hurt by 
the proposed settlements.  Come clean, ICANN, what's behind all these 
anomalies?  I for one think ICANN  should go into Court with its head held 
high and let an honest court decide what is best for the ultimate consumers.

Respectfully submitted,
Robert F. Connelly,
President
Domains Only, Inc.