December 17, 2004 -- (WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) -- According to reports, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (icann.org) will require .net domain owners to pay an additional 75-cent annual fee starting next year. The fee would reportedly bring ICANN approximately $4 million in additional revenue.
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Critics say the fees are unjustified because of the lack of linkage between the revenue and where it is being allocated. ICANN reportedly defends the move as a legitimate way to increase its budget and gain cost certainty.
Some critics say ICANN is deliberately targeting domain owners, who may not be able to voice united opposition to the fees, as was the case earlier this year, when domain registrars got together to oppose ICANN's doubling of its expenditures.
The fee is also expected to be levied for .com and .biz in the near future.
ICANN recently imposed a 25 cent surcharge on .com, .net, .org, .biz, .info, and .name domains. The move also drew significant criticism.
