U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren and Congressman Jerry Nadler have urged the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to investigate what they describe as the “predatory pricing” of .com web addresses by VeriSign. The lawmakers accuse VeriSign, the company that manages the .com top-level domain, of exploiting its monopoly power to charge excessive prices for .com domain registrations. The company raised prices by 30% after an agreement in 2018 that lifted price caps, despite offering no substantial changes in services.
VeriSign, which generates significant revenue from its .com operations, defends its pricing structure by arguing that it does not have a monopoly since there are over 1,200 other domain options available. However, the lawmakers claim that VeriSign’s exclusive control over .com domains results in inflated prices, harming consumers. They are urging the DOJ to examine potential antitrust violations, while also calling on the NTIA to prevent further unjustified price hikes.
The ongoing debate over VeriSign’s pricing comes amidst growing concerns about the concentration of power in domain name management. Critics argue that the partnership between VeriSign and ICANN, which oversees domain name governance, may foster anti-competitive behavior. The NTIA’s upcoming review of the agreement with VeriSign could lead to new regulations aimed at protecting consumers.
News Source:Wired，This article does not represent our position.
