Application Comment Details

PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR THE ICANN FINANCIAL EVALUATION PANEL ON THE APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY UNIFORUM ZA CENTRAL REGISTRY FOR THE

.AFRICA GENERIC TOP-LEVEL DOMAIN NAME

COMMENTS SUBMITTED BY DOTCONNECTAFRICA TRUST

On Unit Selling Price of Domain Names

We note from the published parts of UniForum’s application that they have proposed a unit domain name selling price of US$18.00.

Recent reports in the media by somebody who is associated with the UniForum application quoted him saying: “we are working on a table of 10 to 18 dollars” (Please see http://www.agenceecofin.com/internet/2908-6443-10-dollars-pour-acquerir-le-dotafrica-a-partir-de-2013).

In the UniForum ZA Central Registry application for the .Africa new gTLD, they have unequivocally stated that “Initial registration fees are estimated to be in the region of US$18 per year.” In its submitted application, DCA has indicated a unit domain name registration price of US$10.00 per year.

However, the above statement which purports that they are working on a “table of 10 to 18 dollars” clearly shows that UniForum is probably considering a downward revision to their stated domain name selling price in order for it to be more competitive.

DCA Trust believes that this is clearly against the rules of fair competition, and that the ICANN Financial Evaluation should not allow UniForum to amend the unit domain name registration price and revise it downwards to US$10.00 in order for their unit domain name registration price to be more in line with what DCA Trust has stated in its application. Amending the unit selling price has implications for the Financial Projection Models, and completed projection templates, which no doubt will affect the content of the entire Financial Proposal and the financial models already developed and submitted as part of their .Africa new gTLD application.

We therefore urge the ICANN Financial Evaluation not to allow UniForum to amend any aspect of their Financial Proposal, especially the unit domain name registration price. Should they attempt to submit revised unit domain name selling price and revised domain name financial projection figures, they should be failed on the relevant Financial Evaluation Criteria.