Local cost related to running a TLD

[Alex Gakuru]

One finds a number of developing countries' registries equally guilty
of hesitation in disclosing such their "business" (thus
'confidential') information and data. Never mind their much publicised
'public interest' purpose of existence. Some even (mis)use this status
quo as a basis of charging consumers unreasonably high domain
registrations fees.

To solve this problem, the Consumer Interest Group has been exploring
a new type of business model (for now just call it "consumer-owned
registries") where motive for profit is essentially zero! Fees will be
the closest to actual costs and any surplus income over expenditure
-all of it! (i.e. no accumulated bank reserves) shall be used to
promote public interest internet growth in developing regions.

It means that we shall explore ways of impressing upon ICANN to waive
the 185K, among others. If interested, then please join our mailing
list where we'll have the conversation started soon.

regards,

Alex

On Thu, Mar 18, 2010 at 6:31 AM, Avri Doria <avri at ltu.se> wrote:
>
> The issue is that when one complains about this cost, the reply is that the 185,000 fee is nothing when compared to the cost of running a registry. So when one responds that in developing areas, the cost of running a new registry, especially a small  one with a slow ramp up will be much lower, we are asked to prove it.  And to date have not had the figures to do so.
>
> I..e when I make the argument that it cost less to do a proper regisrty in Cambodia or Kenya, I am just handwaving, because I do not have the financial facts.
>