Changes

The .com gTLD, along with the other original TLDs, was first administered by the United States Department of Defense under the [[DARPA|Defense Advance Advance Research Project Agency]], which was first implemented in 1985. The [[NIC|Network Information Center]], which was run by [[SRI International]], was the first assigned registrar and administrator of the first domain names.<ref>[http://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc920.txt RFC 920], RFC-Editor.org.</ref> NIC was responsible for registering and hosting the domain names,<ref>[http://www.sri.com/about/timeline/tld-nic.html SRI International]</ref> as well as administering the [[IP Address|IP addresses]].<ref>[http://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc1020.txt RFC 1020], RFC-Editor.org.</ref>  

The .com gTLD, along with the other original TLDs, was first administered by the United States Department of Defense under the [[DARPA|Defense Advance Advance Research Project Agency]], which was first implemented in 1985. The [[NIC|Network Information Center]], which was run by [[SRI International]], was the first assigned registrar and administrator of the first domain names.<ref>[http://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc920.txt RFC 920], RFC-Editor.org.</ref> NIC was responsible for registering and hosting the domain names,<ref>[http://www.sri.com/about/timeline/tld-nic.html SRI International]</ref> as well as administering the [[IP Address|IP addresses]].<ref>[http://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc1020.txt RFC 1020], RFC-Editor.org.</ref>  

On October 1, 1991, the administration of the .com and all the TLDs was transfered to [[GSI|Government Systems, Inc.]].<ref name="rfc1261">[http://www.armware.dk/RFC/rfc/rfc1261.html RFC 1261], ArmWare.dk.</ref> It assumed all of SRI's service responsibilities, such as domain name registration, online informations services and help desk operations, as well as [[RFC]] and Internet-Draft archive and distribution services. The Internet registration services were provided by Defense Information System Agency (DISA) NIC, which was also operated by Government Systems Inc.<ref name="rfc1261"></ref> This task was sub-contracted by GSI to [[Network Solutions]] (NSI).

On October 1, 1991, the administration of the .com and all the TLDs was transferred to [[GSI|Government Systems, Inc.]].<ref name="rfc1261">[http://www.armware.dk/RFC/rfc/rfc1261.html RFC 1261], ArmWare.dk.</ref> It assumed all of SRI's service responsibilities, such as domain name registration, online information services, and help desk operations, as well as [[RFC]] and Internet-Draft archive and distribution services. The Internet registration services were provided by [[Defense Information Systems Agency]] (DISA) NIC, which was also operated by Government Systems Inc.<ref name="rfc1261"></ref> This task was sub-contracted by GSI to [[Network Solutions]] (NSI).

The legislation of the Scientific and Advanced Technology Act in 1992 gave an expanded mandate to the [[NSF|National Science Foundation]] (NSF). This is a statutory body, which supports and strengthens basic scientific research, engineering, and educational activities in the United States, including the maintenance of computer networks used to connect research and educational institutions. It assumed the responsibility of coordinating and funding the management of the non-military portion of Internet infrastructure, pursuant to the High-Performance Computing Act which was legislated on December 9, 1991.  

The legislation of the Scientific and Advanced Technology Act in 1992 gave an expanded mandate to the [[NSF|National Science Foundation]] (NSF). This is a statutory body, which supports and strengthens basic scientific research, engineering, and educational activities in the United States, including the maintenance of computer networks, used to connect research and educational institutions. It assumed the responsibility of coordinating and funding the management of the non-military portion of Internet infrastructure, pursuant to the High-Performance Computing Act which was legislated on December 9, 1991.  

In 1993, NSF and NSI entered a five-year cooperative agreement, which appointed NSI as the sole provider of domain name registrations for the .com, [[.net]], and [[.org]] gTLDs.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20010301153634/http://networksolutions.com/en_US/legal/internic/cooperative-agreement/agreement.html NSI-NSF Cooperative Agreement], Archive.org.</ref> In 2000, Network Solutions was acquired by [[Verisign]],<ref>[http://about-networksolutions.com/corporate-history.php Network Solutions History], NetworkSoutions.com.</ref> which retained NSI's registry business.  

In 1993, NSF and NSI entered a five-year cooperative agreement, which appointed NSI as the sole provider of domain name registrations for the .com, [[.net]], and [[.org]] gTLDs.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20010301153634/http://networksolutions.com/en_US/legal/internic/cooperative-agreement/agreement.html NSI-NSF Cooperative Agreement], Archive.org.</ref> In 2000, Network Solutions was acquired by [[Verisign]],<ref>[http://about-networksolutions.com/corporate-history.php Network Solutions History], NetworkSoutions.com.</ref> which retained NSI's registry business.  

===25 Years of .com===

===25 Years of .com===

An informational video on the growth of the Internet since .com was introduced, produced in 2010:

An informational video on the growth of the Internet since .com was introduced, produced in 2010:

<videoflash type="vimeo">12430383</videoflash>

{{#ev:vimeo|12430383}}

<br>

<br>

Verisign had a number of events, forums, contests and awards planned for the 25th anniversary of .com in 2010. These included awards to 25 people and companies recognized for influencing the .com namespace and the Internet as a whole, and a Washington D.C.-based Policy Impact Forum featuring [[Bill Clinton]], [[Rod Beckstrom]], Arianna Huffington, [[Ken Silva]], and others. Verisign unveiled details for four $75,000 research grants at its San Francisco event, which also featured then CEO [[Mark McLaughlin]]  and ICANN Chairman [[Peter Dengate Thrush]].<ref>[http://www.25yearsof.com/ 25yearsof.com]</ref>

Verisign had a number of events, forums, contests and awards planned for the 25th anniversary of .com in 2010. These included awards to 25 people and companies recognized for influencing the .com namespace and the Internet as a whole, and a Washington D.C.-based Policy Impact Forum featuring [[Bill Clinton]], [[Rod Beckstrom]], Arianna Huffington, [[Ken Silva]], and others. Verisign unveiled details for four $75,000 research grants at its San Francisco event, which also featured then CEO [[Mark McLaughlin]]  and ICANN Chairman [[Peter Dengate Thrush]].<ref>[http://www.25yearsof.com/ 25yearsof.com]</ref>

===Renewals===

===Registry Agreement===

The dropping of the aforementioned litigation between Verisign and ICANN cleared the way for the renewal of the [[.com]] registry agreement from 2005 through 2012.<ref>[http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/10/25/verisign_icann_deal/ Verisign ICANN deal], TheRegister.co.uk. Puhed 25 October 2005.</ref> The agreement and its appendices can be viewed via the ICANN site [http://www.icann.org/en/about/agreements/registries/com here].

The dropping of the aforementioned litigation between Verisign and ICANN cleared the way for the renewal of the [[.com]] registry agreement from 2005 through 2012.<ref>[http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/10/25/verisign_icann_deal/ Verisign ICANN deal], TheRegister.co.uk. Puhed 25 October 2005.</ref> The agreement and its appendices can be viewed via the ICANN site [http://www.icann.org/en/about/agreements/registries/com here].

In March 2012, [[ICANN]] posted a proposal for Verisign's potential renewal of the 2006 .com registry agreement.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-27mar12-en.htm .com Registry Agreement Renewal], ICANN.org.</ref> Three months later, in June 2012, the [[ICANN Board]] went against community suggestions to approve Verisign's .com registry agreement for an additional seven years after its expiration on November 30th, 2012. According to the ICANN decision, Verisign would've also been allowed to increase its registry fee by 7% in four out of the next seven years,<ref>[http://domainincite.com/9610-icann-gives-verisigns-com-contract-the-nod ICANN gives Verisign’s .com contract the nod], DomainIncite.com. Published 25 June 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2012.</ref> but this decision was changed by the [[DOC|Department of Commerce]]. Nonetheless, the new policy will result in Verisign paying ICANN a $0.25 fee for every .com registration, renewal, or transfer, instead of the lump sums it paid previously, potentially netting ICANN an additional $8 million in revenue annually.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/9845-icann-to-get-8-million-more-from-new-com-deal ICANN to get $8 million more from new .com deal], DomainIncite.com. Published 27 July 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2012.</ref><ref name="verisign2">[http://domainincite.com/10865-breaking-us-probing-verisign-price-hikes-com-contract-extended US probing Verisign price hikes, .com contract may be extended], DomainIncite.com. Published 25 October 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2012.</ref> The original board resolutions can be viewed [http://www.icann.org/en/groups/board/documents/resolutions-23jun12-en.htm#2 here].

In March 2012, [[ICANN]] posted a proposal for Verisign's potential renewal of the 2006 .com registry agreement.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-27mar12-en.htm .com Registry Agreement Renewal], ICANN.org.</ref> Three months later, in June 2012, the [[ICANN Board]] went against community suggestions to approve Verisign's .com registry agreement for an additional seven years after its expiration on November 30th, 2012. According to the ICANN decision, Verisign would've also been allowed to increase its registry fee by 7% in four out of the next seven years,<ref>[http://domainincite.com/9610-icann-gives-verisigns-com-contract-the-nod ICANN gives Verisign’s .com contract the nod], DomainIncite.com. Published 25 June 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2012.</ref> but this decision was changed by the [[DOC|Department of Commerce]]. Nonetheless, the new policy will result in Verisign paying ICANN a $0.25 fee for every .com registration, renewal, or transfer, instead of the lump sums it paid previously, potentially netting ICANN an additional $8 million in revenue annually.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/9845-icann-to-get-8-million-more-from-new-com-deal ICANN to get $8 million more from new .com deal], DomainIncite.com. Published 27 July 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2012.</ref><ref name="verisign2">[http://domainincite.com/10865-breaking-us-probing-verisign-price-hikes-com-contract-extended US probing Verisign price hikes, .com contract may be extended], DomainIncite.com. Published 25 October 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2012.</ref> The original board resolutions can be viewed [http://www.icann.org/en/groups/board/documents/resolutions-23jun12-en.htm#2 here].

In August 2012, three of [[ICANN]]'s Constituencies ([[ALAC]], [[GNSO]] [[Business Constituency]], [[GNSO]] [[Intellectual Property Constituency]]) sent a letter to ICANN complaining that the organization held its renewal talks with Verisign behind closed doors and the result is that there are no [[Whois|Thick Whois]] requirements for the .com TLD.<ref>[http://domainnamewire.com/2012/08/21/constituencies-blast-icanns-closed-door-verisign-com-contract-renewal/ Constituencies Blast ICANNs Closed Door Verisign Com Contract Renewal, DomainNameWire.com]</ref> The decision could not move forward without approval from the [[DOC|Department of Commerce]],<ref name="verisign2"></ref> which Verisign received on November 29th, 2012.<ref name="verisign3">[https://investor.verisign.com/releaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=724216 Verisign Announces US Department of Commerce Approval of Newly Revised .com Registry Agreement], Verisign.com. Published 30 November 2012.</ref>

In August 2012, three of [[ICANN]]'s Constituencies ([[ALAC]], [[GNSO]] [[Business Constituency]], [[GNSO]] [[Intellectual Property Constituency]]) sent a letter to ICANN complaining that the organization held its renewal talks with Verisign behind closed doors and the result is that there are no [[Whois|Thick Whois]] requirements for the .com TLD.<ref>[http://domainnamewire.com/2012/08/21/constituencies-blast-icanns-closed-door-verisign-com-contract-renewal/ Constituencies Blast ICANNs Closed Door Verisign Com Contract Renewal, DomainNameWire.com]</ref> The decision could not move forward without approval from the [[DOC|Department of Commerce]], which Verisign received on November 29th, 2012.<ref name="verisign2"></ref><ref name="verisign3">[https://investor.verisign.com/releaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=724216 Verisign Announces US Department of Commerce Approval of Newly Revised .com Registry Agreement], Verisign.com. Published 30 November 2012.</ref>

Verisign is to serve as the registry operator for .com from December 2012 through November 2018, with new terms and conditions, including:

Verisign is to serve as the registry operator for .com from December 2012 through November 2018, with new terms and conditions, including:

===Overcrowding of .Com Domain Space===

===Overcrowding of .Com Domain Space===

.com is the most popular and widely registered top level domain name by internet users worldwide. In 2000, there were more than 20 million registered names under the .com domain name space.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2000/11/17/technology/17DOMA.html%20(last%20visited%20Dec.%202,%202000)www.nytimes.com NYTimes.com]</ref> The overcrowding of the .com domain space has resulted in difficulties for users to find appealing domain names. This led to a proposal from the Internet community to create new gTLDs to solve the problem. On April 18-19, 2000, during the [[ICANN Yokohama]] meeting, the [[DNSO]] Names Council proposed the implementation of new TLDs to promote competition in the domain name registration business, enhance the utility of the DNS, and  increase the available number of domain names.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/meetings/yokohama/new-tld-topic.htm#IIC www.icann.org]</ref> On November 16, 2000, ICANN approved seven new gTLDs which include [[.biz]], [[.info]], [[.name]], [[.pro]], [[.museum]], [[.aero]] and [[.coop]] to ease up the exhaustion of the .com and the [[.net]] domain space. Further expansion of available [[gTLD]]s is expected to be authorized at ICANN's 2011 meeting in Singapore.

.com is the most popular and widely registered top level domain name by Internet users worldwide. In 2000, there were more than 20 million registered names under the .com domain name space.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2000/11/17/technology/17DOMA.html%20(last%20visited%20Dec.%202,%202000)www.nytimes.com NYTimes.com]</ref> The overcrowding of the .com domain space has resulted in difficulties for users to find appealing domain names. This led to a proposal from the Internet community to create new gTLDs to solve the problem. On April 18-19, 2000, during the [[ICANN Yokohama]] meeting, the [[DNSO]] Names Council proposed the implementation of new TLDs to promote competition in the domain name registration business, enhance the utility of the DNS, and  increase the available number of domain names.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/meetings/yokohama/new-tld-topic.htm#IIC www.icann.org]</ref> On November 16, 2000, ICANN approved seven new gTLDs which include [[.biz]], [[.info]], [[.name]], [[.pro]], [[.museum]], [[.aero]] and [[.coop]] to ease up the exhaustion of the .com and the [[.net]] domain space. Further expansion of available [[gTLD]]s is expected to be authorized at ICANN's 2011 meeting in Singapore.

===U.S. Seizures of Domain Names===

===U.S. Seizures of Domain Names===

==References==

==References==

{{reflist}}

{{reflist}}</div>

[[Category: TLD]]

[[Category: TLD]]