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The '''Registrar Accreditation Agreement''' ('''RAA''') is a series of agreements between [[ICANN]], the United States Department of Commerce ([[DOC]]), and [[Network Solutions]], with the intent of enhancing competition between [[.com]], [[.net]], and [[.org]] TLD registrars. It was tentatively announced on September 28, 1999. After oral and written public comments, the RAA was revised on several grounds and then adopted by ICANN on November 4, 1999.  

The '''Registrar Accreditation Agreement''' ('''RAA''') was one of several agreements between [[ICANN]], the United States Department of Commerce ([[DOC]]), and [[Network Solutions]], with the intent of enhancing and solidifying the competition between [[.com]], [[.net]], and [[.org]] TLD registrars. These agreements were tentatively announced on September 28, 1999, and, after oral and written public comments, were revised and then adopted by ICANN on November 4, 1999.  

The RAA states that, to continue to register names with the .com, .org, and .net registry, to be operated by Network Solutions following November 30, 1999, registrars must sign a new Registrar License and Agreement with the NSI as well as need to sign the revised version of ICANN accreditation agreement.<ref name="link1">[http://www.icann.org/en/nsi/icann-raa-04nov99.htm icann.org]ICANN-RAA, November 4, 1999</ref>

The RAA is, simply stated, the contract that governs the relationship between ICANN and its accredited [[registrars]]. At the time, registrars were allowed to take up the new agreement in place of their old agreement.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/nsi/icann-raa-04nov99.htm RAA, November 4, 1999]</ref>

The RAA had gone through several revisions and on 21 May 2009, the ICANN Board of Directors approved the revisions to the RAA. This new RAA applies to all the new registrars, registrars that voluntarily adopt the contract prior the renewal date and to registrars that renew after the approval date. <ref name="link2">[http://www.icann.org/en/topics/raa/ icann.org]RAA</ref>

On May 21, 2009, ICANN approved revisions to the RAA, which were intended to clarify the responsibilities of the registrars and the rights of the registrants. These revisions came about in response to market development and the significant growth in the number of accredited registrars and domain name registrations, as per the suggestion of a comprehensive review of the RAA and the Accreditation process called for in March 2007 by then-ICANN CEO [[Paul Twomey]]. This new RAA applies to all the new registrars, registrars that voluntarily adopt the contract prior the renewal date and to registrars that renew after the approval date.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/topics/raa/ Revised RAA]</ref>

 

 

The RAA is nothing but basically a contract which looks after the relationship between the accredited registrars and ICANN. Considering a substantial growth in the number of domain name registrations as well as the increase in the number of ICANN accredited registrars there were suggestions that this agreement should be amended. The amendments were intended to provide a large amount of certainty and clarity with respect to rights of the registrants and duties of the registrars.<ref name="link2">[http://www.icann.org/en/topics/raa/ icann.org]RAA</ref>

== Contents of RAA ==

== Contents of RAA ==