IP: You really don't want to hear my comments on this, do you : Good Morning Silicon Valley Mon May 21 12:15:11 EDT 2001

[David Farber <dave@farber.net>]

>Extended VeriSign monopoly just one more important step forward for the 
>Internet: The U.S. Department of Commerce on Friday 
><http://www2.osec.doc.gov/public.nsf/docs/icann-verisign-0518>approved a 
>proposal that 
><http://www.siliconvalley.com/docs/opinion/gmsv/archive01/morn05182001.htm>extends 
>VeriSign's monopoly control over the ".com" domain registry. Under the 
>terms of the proposal VeriSign will operate the registry of ".com" 
>addresses through 2007, but must open up the registry for ".net" addresses 
>to competition in 2005 -- a year earlier than stipulated in a previous 
>version of the proposal. While the DOC's approval of the deal specifically 
>does not provide the company with antitrust immunity, its view of the 
>arrangement as one that is beneficial to consumers suggests VeriSign has 
>little to worry about in this regard. "Our goal throughout the negotiating 
>process was to make sure consumers reap the benefits of an open, stable 
>and competitive Internet. These agreements achieve that goal," 
><http://www2.osec.doc.gov/public.nsf/docs/icann-verisign-0518>said DOC 
>General Counsel Ted Kassinger. "We sought changes to promote competition, 
>preserve stability and protect consumers. We believe that our objectives 
>have been met." While it's difficult to understand just how a proposal 
>that favors an existing monopoly achieves the end of which Mr. Kassinger 
>speaks, we can do little but to take him at his word. Stratton Sclavos, 
>VeriSign president and CEO, lauded the decision to ratify the registry 
>agreements as 
><http://corporate.verisign.com/news/2001/pr_20010518.html>"an important 
>step forward" for the Internet. "We fully appreciate the Department of 
>Commerce's effort to promote stability and competitiveness in the Internet 
>infrastructure," he said.



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