Verisign, which manages .COM TLD, has decided to begin talks with ICANN to possibly increase registration prices in their domain zone. According to Domain Name Wire, Verisign CEO James Bidzos made this decision last week following an internal meeting. The registration cost is set forth in the contract between Verisign and ICANN, but Verisign also has a contract with the US Government. The Obama administration prevented the company from raising prices in .COM.
However, under Donald Trump, who speaks in favor of lifting restrictions on private businesses, the situation has changed, and at the end of 2018, the contract was amended. In particular, it now allows for price increases of 7 percent per year in the last four years of each six-year contract extension. Of course, it must be approved by ICANN, which used to defer to the authorities’ decisions. For example, when extending the contract in 2012, ICANN initially allowed for a price increase but pulled back once the US Government opposed it. Now ICANN is not formally controlled by the US Department of Commerce. It will soon become clear how the talks will unfold.
