.COM MONOPOLY IN THE MAKING?
Bob Parsons, founder of the discount Internet domain registrar GoDaddy.com, is concerned that "VeriSign has somehow persuaded ICANN to propose a new contract where VeriSign will be the permanent and unregulated controller of the .COM registry. VeriSign would also get the right of presumptive renewal. This means when the new contract for the .COM registry comes up for renewal in 2012, it won’t be put out for bid – like the .NET contract was in 2005 – instead it will simply renew in VeriSign’s favor...

"But wait! There’s more. Not only will the .COM registry contract never again be put out for bid, but VeriSign will also have the right to raise prices, in its sole discretion, up to 7% per year in four of the next six years. So they can raise prices by up to 28% over the next six years."

Hmmm? Sounds preposterous! But I'd like to hear the other side of the story before I get too annoyed.