[NA-Discuss] [At-Large] Price increases in .com

[Vittorio Bertola]

I have changed the subject. I will respond separately on the "tasting 
fee" issue.

Michael Maranda ha scritto:
> Again, referencing the gentleman from Tucows...  exclusive contracts 
> were won in part by expectations of price decreases.
> 
> At-Large should have some strong words on this matter for the Board of 
> Directors, however, there is a sense that we are supposed to build up 
> our credibility through "productivity" first.

Just for the sake of precision, we did have clear words when this was 
decided, at the end of 2005:

http://alac.icann.org/announcements/announcement-02dec05.htm

Unfortunately, the new .com contract (which allows Verisign to 
unilaterally increase the registry price by 7% per year) was the result 
of a political/legal settlement, in which Verisign dropped lawsuits and 
agreed to support ICANN in exchange for this new contract. The Board at 
that time decided that it was the right thing to do, because it would 
ensure the corporation a steady source of revenue, eliminate legal 
risks, and other similar considerations.

In my opinion, that situation only showed a big flaw of the "private 
governance model", in which an entity which should have the authority to 
act for the public good is forced not to do so because it lacks the 
insulation from business and legal pressures that a governmental 
authority would have, but that possibly is because I do not have the 
same kind of blind faith in commercial enterprises and in "market 
self-regulation" that many people at ICANN seem to have.

> Could we send a statement to the board reporting these increases to the 
> Internet Community, as Danny indicates, well in advance of the official 
> date... and echoing the sentiment that good stewardship demands better?

If we want to say "we told you", I'm fine. That wouldn't have any 
practical effect, though - but perhaps would help in preventing similar 
situations from happening again.
-- 
vb.                   Vittorio Bertola - vb [a] bertola.eu   <--------
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