NSI, Commerce discuss domains
Network Solutions is meeting with government officials to resolve differences on issues including unannounced changes NSI made to its domain database and to the InterNIC site.
Over the weekend, NSI fixed its WhoIs database to make it show when a domain name was originally registered. The Herndon, Virginia, company's removal of that data in January angered some firms, which said they needed the information to run their businesses. Restoring the information was among the topics officials at the Commerce Department were discussing with NSI.
Starting last month, NSI also began redirecting Web users trying to access the government-owned InterNIC site to NSI's home page. The move sparked criticism from companies hoping to compete with NSI when its exclusive contract with the Commerce Department expires. NSI took the actions without prior notice, prompting agency officials to investigate if they violated the agreement.
As first reported by CNET News.com, NSI last month also purged tens of thousands of addresses from its database that are on hold. The move was designed to crack down on speculators who register potentially popular domain names in the hopes of reselling them. So-called cybersquatters would register the names but sell them before NSI required payment.
The Commerce Department has appointed the nonprofit Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers to set up the new competition. The group next month hopes to begin a trial period during which five companies will begin registering domain names. Within a few months, ICANN plans to open registration of domain names to any company meeting accreditation guidelines.