As domain name registry operator Verisign defends recent rate increases, new analysis questions its argument that registrars alone dictate final consumer costs.
Verisign contends rising registrar prices more significantly impact users, offsetting its own 31% .COM cost surge since 2021. However, the report finds competition prevents such passing-through.
While certain firms raised listing rates more than Verisign over a decade, GoDaddy’s average fees remain lower through membership deals. Namecheap similarly lagged registry hikes until now modestly adjusting.
Some registrars like Cloudflare, NameBright and Cosmotown maintain pricing near Verisign’s wholesale level to attract clients. Over 1,000 registrars foster choice for value seekers versus monopoly costs.
Registrars face expenses like credit card processing absent at Verisign. Yet competition spurs continued offers near underlying rates, unlike the registry benefits from guaranteed market control.
As such, consumers encounter reasonable options despite higher-listed prices. Verisign’s defense downplays competitive forces curbing final impacts, according critics questioning unchecked commission authority.
The findings suggest users face less direct exposure than claimed, challenging need for concentrated authority absent for diverse service providers. Debate continues over balancing access and profits in core internet functions.
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