September 21, 2006 -- (WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) -- Domain registrar and Web hosting provider Go Daddy (godaddy.com) announced on Wednesday it is urging Senate lawmakers to protect the integrity of the Internet, keeping it under control of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers and promoting greater accountability and transparency among leaders of the Internet's governing body.
Go Daddy says general counsel Christine Jones testified before a Congressional subcommittee reviewing current governance of the Internet and the future of ICANN. Jones reportedly testified that conduct by ICANN and .com manager VeriSign, has violated the trust of Internet users and threatened consumer confidence in the Internet.
According to Go Daddy, ICANN has yet to commit to openness and accountability and that the new .com agreement was negotiated in a way that exemplified ICANN and VeriSign getting together, off the record, creating a mutually beneficial policy, and then announcing that decision with no input from stakeholders. The .com registry includes more than 56 million domain names or about 75 percent of all Internet addresses.
Go Daddy has been a vocal opponent, along with many other domain registrars and Internet businesses, of the deal between VeriSign and ICANN.
"Go Daddy will keep up the good fight on this important issue. We will take these concerns to the highest levels of our government, on behalf of our customers," says Bob Parsons, CEO and founder of Go Daddy. "As an industry leader, it is our obligation to see this through. Our legal team and Washington, DC representation are continuing to fight for the future of the Internet. We believe this is in the best interest of Go Daddy's customers and all Internet users."
Go Daddy says lawmakers can still slow the .com renewal process between ICANN and VeriSign to ensure that Internet consumers are getting a fair deal.
