For those who aren't yet sick of the topic, this note was sent to US domain registrars. I suspect those folks who grabbed hundreds of domains will have to make a good business case now, as will ISPs who've been providing this service gratis to the limited folks who've shown interest.
---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Thu, 12 Jun 1997 17:29:56 -0700 From: postel@ISI.EDU To: us-dom-adm@ISI.EDU Cc: postel@ISI.EDU Subject: Charging for US Domain Names
Hello:
We appreciate the service you are providing by supporting the subdomains of the US Domain.
Our service in managing the overall structure of the US Domain has been paid for under a Cooperative Agreement with the National Science Foundation (NSF). This agreement will end in March 1998.
Starting in the spring of 1998 our service will have to be self supporting (no more government funds).
We expect to introduce an annual charge for maintaining the records of the subdomains we delegate.
At this time -- and subject to change -- our guestimate is that the charge per delegated subdomain will be between $20 and $40 per year.
Thanks,
--jon & shanthi
Daniel Senie mailto:dts@openroute.com Sr. Staff Engineer http://www.openroute.com/ OpenROUTE Networks, Inc. (a wholly owned subsidiary of Proteon, Inc.)