The Staffs of the Bureaus of Economics and Competition of the Federal
Trade Commission ("FTC Staff") welcome this opportunity
to respond to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration's
("NTIA") request for comments ("RFC") on its
proposal to privatize the Internet Domain Name System ("DNS").(1)
Internet domain names are the familiar and descriptive names for
Internet sites (e.g., "www.ftc.gov"). They link to the
unique Internet Protocol ("IP") numbers (e.g., 98.37.241.30)
that serve as routing addresses on the Internet. The Domain Name
System translates Internet names into the IP numbers required for
transmission of information across the network. Currently, the registration
and propagation of "top-level domain" ("TLD")
names is carried out by a single firm that is under a soon-to-expire
contract with the National Science Foundation.
The NTIA now proposes that the administration of TLDs, and the registration
of domain names, be provided competitively by private, for-profit
entities. The NTIA also proposes that certain other technical functions
(e.g., management of number addresses; coordination of the root
server system; dissemination of protocol parameters for Internet
addressing) be carried out cooperatively (via a new not-for-profit
corporation) by parties having vested interests in the efficient
operation of the system.
As explained more fully in this comment, purchasers of domain name
registration services might be subject to supracompetitive prices
in the future if they become "locked-in" to a particular
vendor of those services. The likelihood of a significant customer
investment that results in "lock-in" is a detailed factual
question on which this comment cannot reach a definitive conclusion.
Economic analysis suggests, however, that purchasers may be able
to take steps to reduce their vulnerability to higher prices from
"lock-in" effects. In addition, higher prices arising
from "lock-in" also could occur under alternatives to
the NTIA proposal and under the current registration system. Finally,
the benefits to consumers of introducing competition to the registration
of domain names are likely to make the NTIA proposal, on balance,
preferable to the current system.
Velocity
Low Price Domain Name Registration
Buy Cheap Domain Name
Cheap Domain Name And Web Hosting
Cheap Domain Registration With Web Hosting
Domain Name Registration
Domain Name Registration Site
Domain Registration Web Site Hosting
Low Cost Domain Name
Low Cost Domain Name Registration
Low Cost Domain Registration
Low Price Domain Name Registration
