Changes

A '''registrar''' has direct relationships with domain name [[Registry|registries]] and is authorized to sell domain names. In order to become a registrar, one has to be accredited through ICANN,<ref>[http://help.yahoo.com/l/us/yahoo/smallbusiness/domains/redelegation/redelegation-06.html Registrar Definition]</ref> which requires that they meet certain business and technical requirements.

A '''registrar''' has direct relationships with domain name [[Registry|registries]] and is authorized to sell domain names. In order to become a registrar, one has to be accredited through ICANN,<ref>[http://help.yahoo.com/l/us/yahoo/smallbusiness/domains/redelegation/redelegation-06.html Registrar Definition]</ref> which requires that they meet certain business and technical requirements.

* '''Registrar Operator''': A term used to denote the entity providing the technical services to a Registrar in support of their registration services. Also referred to as a "Registrar Outsourcer" or "Registrar Provider".

* '''Registrar Operator''': A term used to denote the entity providing the technical services to a Registrar in support of their registration services. Also referred to as a "Registrar Outsourcer" or "Registrar Provider".

==Background==

==Background==  

===NSI Cooperative Agreement & the SRS===

===NSI Cooperative Agreement & the SRS===

From 1993 to 1998, [[Network Solutions]] (NSI) was the only Registrar and Registry Operator for the [[.com]], [[.net]] and [[.org]] top level domain names ([[TLD]]s), based on a Cooperative Agreement between NSI and the National Science Foundation ([[NSF]]).<ref>[http://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/cyber/internet.jsp A Brief History of NSF and the Internet]</ref> The [[Department of Commerce]] (DOC) extended and amended the Cooperative Agreement with NSI when the contract expired in 1998. Under the new Cooperative Agreement, NSI would continue to serve as a Registry Operator, but would implement a Shared Registry System ([[SRS]]) by June 1, 1999, meaning that multiple registrars could be accredited by a new non-profit organization that was to be created to take over the technical management of the [[DNS]]. Five new registrars were to be chosen by the new corporation to test the SRS.<ref>[http://www.ntia.doc.gov/legacy/ntiahome/domainname/proposals/DOCNSI100698.htm Special Award Conditions NCR-9218742 Amendment No. 11]</ref> The Agreement was modified twice in order to adjust the date of the deployment of the SRS from June 1 to June 25, 1999,<ref>[http://www.ntia.doc.gov/files/ntia/publications/amend12.pdf Amendment Number 12]</ref> to include a registration fee for new domain names ($9 for one year and $18 for two years), and to include the [[Registrar License Agreement]].<ref>[http://www.ntia.doc.gov/files/ntia/publications/amendment13.pdf Amendment Number 13]</ref>

From 1993 to 1998, [[Network Solutions]] (NSI) was the only Registrar and Registry Operator for the [[.com]], [[.net]] and [[.org]] top level domain names ([[TLD]]s), based on a Cooperative Agreement between NSI and the National Science Foundation ([[NSF]]).<ref>[http://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/cyber/internet.jsp A Brief History of NSF and the Internet]</ref> The [[Department of Commerce]] (DOC) extended and amended the Cooperative Agreement with NSI when the contract expired in 1998. Under the new Cooperative Agreement, NSI would continue to serve as a Registry Operator, but would implement a Shared Registry System ([[SRS]]) by June 1, 1999, meaning that multiple registrars could be accredited by a new non-profit organization that was to be created to take over the technical management of the [[DNS]]. Five new registrars were to be chosen by the new corporation to test the SRS.<ref>[http://www.ntia.doc.gov/legacy/ntiahome/domainname/proposals/DOCNSI100698.htm Special Award Conditions NCR-9218742 Amendment No. 11]</ref> The Agreement was modified twice in order to adjust the date of the deployment of the SRS from June 1 to June 25, 1999,<ref>[http://www.ntia.doc.gov/files/ntia/publications/amend12.pdf Amendment Number 12]</ref> to include a registration fee for new domain names ($9 for one year and $18 for two years), and to include the [[Registrar License Agreement]].<ref>[http://www.ntia.doc.gov/files/ntia/publications/amendment13.pdf Amendment Number 13]</ref>

===ICANN's Registrar Accreditation Policy===

===ICANN's Registrar Accreditation Policy===  

On November 1998, the DOC officially recognized [[ICANN]] as the new private, non-profit organization responsible in administering the technical management of DNS. Some of its responsibilities would include supervision of the deployment and transition to SRS, development and implementation procedures for registrar accreditation that would ensure a competitive registration system, and to maintain the stability and security of the internet.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/resources/registrars/accreditation/history Registrar Accreditation: History of the Shared Registry System]</ref>

On November 1998, the DOC officially recognized [[ICANN]] as the new private, non-profit organization responsible in administering the technical management of DNS. Some of its responsibilities would include supervision of the deployment and transition to SRS, development and implementation procedures for registrar accreditation that would ensure a competitive registration system, and to maintain the stability and security of the internet.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/resources/registrars/accreditation/history Registrar Accreditation: History of the Shared Registry System]</ref>

On March 4, 1999, the [[ICANN Board]] adopted the Statement of Registrar Accreditation Policy for the .com, .net and .org TLDs. Under the policy, registrars seeking to participate in the SRS Testbed Program would be required to pay $2,500, while all other registrar applicants would pay $1,000. Applicants that were not selected for the test bed would be considered for regular accreditation.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/resources/registrars/accreditation/policy-statement Statement of Registrar Accreditation Policy]</ref>

On March 4, 1999, the [[ICANN Board]] adopted the Statement of Registrar Accreditation Policy for the .com, .net and .org TLDs. Under the policy, registrars seeking to participate in the SRS Testbed Program would be required to pay $2,500, while all other registrar applicants would pay $1,000. Applicants that were not selected for the test bed would be considered for regular accreditation.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/resources/registrars/accreditation/policy-statement Statement of Registrar Accreditation Policy]</ref>

===Participants for the SRS Testbed Program===

===Participants for the SRS Testbed Program===  

ICANN accepted applicantions for the SRS Testbed Program from March 11 to April 8, 1999. On April 21, 1999, ICANN announced that the following five registrars had been selected to participate in the testbed:<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/icann-pr-21apr99-en.htm ICANN Names Competitive Domain-Name Registrars]</ref>

ICANN accepted applicantions for the SRS Testbed Program from March 11 to April 8, 1999. On April 21, 1999, ICANN announced that the following five registrars had been selected to participate in the testbed:<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/icann-pr-21apr99-en.htm ICANN Names Competitive Domain-Name Registrars]</ref>

# America Online ([[AOL]])

# America Online ([[AOL]])

# [[Melbourne IT]]

# [[Melbourne IT]]

# [[Register.com]]

# [[Register.com]]

In addition, ICANN also announced the names of 29 additional companies that would receive accreditation after the completion of the SRS Testbed Program. The testbed ended on November 30, 1999. The List of Businesses to be Accredited as Post-Testbed Registrars is available [http://archive.icann.org/en/registrars/posttestebed-21apr99.htm here].

In addition, ICANN also announced the names of 29 additional companies that would receive accreditation after the completion of the SRS Testbed Program. The testbed ended on November 30, 1999. The List of Businesses to be Accredited as Post-Testbed Registrars is available [http://archive.icann.org/en/registrars/posttestebed-21apr99.htm here].

ICANN has continued to accept applications for registrar accreditation since then. Here is a complete list of existing [http://www.icann.org/registrar-reports/accredited-list.html '''ICANN Accredited Registrars'''].

ICANN has continued to accept applications for registrar accreditation since then. Here is a complete list of existing [http://www.icann.org/registrar-reports/accredited-list.html '''ICANN Accredited Registrars'''].

===The Registrar Accreditation Agreement (RAA)===

===The Registrar Accreditation Agreement (RAA)===  

ICANN implemented a new version of Registrar Accreditation Agreement ([[RAA]]) on March 17, 2001 effective until March 21, 2009. A new revision was again introduced on March 21, 2009 with 17 amendments. Some of the revisions include:<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/resources/registrars/accreditation/history Registrar Accreditation: History of the Shared Registry System]</ref>

ICANN implemented a new version of Registrar Accreditation Agreement ([[RAA]]) on March 17, 2001 effective until March 21, 2009. A new revision was again introduced on March 21, 2009 with 17 amendments. Some of the revisions include:<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/resources/registrars/accreditation/history Registrar Accreditation: History of the Shared Registry System]</ref>

* improved enforcement tools to ensure full compliance with the ICANN contract and policies

* improved enforcement tools to ensure full compliance with the ICANN contract and policies

* provisions for termination

* provisions for termination

Read the [http://www.icann.org/en/resources/registrars/raa/ra-agreement-21may09-en.htm 2009 RAA].

Read the [http://www.icann.org/en/resources/registrars/raa/approved-with-specs-27jun13-en.htm 2013 RAA].

==Registry and Registrar==

==Registry and Registrar==  

===Vertical Separation===

===Vertical Separation===

When the U.S. [[DOC|Department of Commerce]] amended [[Network Solutions]]' (NSI) cooperative agreement and implemented the [[SRS|Shared Registry System]] (SRS), the DOC also put a condition on the renewal of NSI's contract: the company would be able to automatically renew its contract for another four years as long as it separated its [[registry]] and registrar businesses. This was done in order to promote more competition in the domain space.<ref>[http://archive.icann.org/en/nsi/nsi-registry-agreement-04nov99.htm ICANN-NSI Registry Agreement]</ref>

When the U.S. [[DOC|Department of Commerce]] amended [[Network Solutions]]' (NSI) cooperative agreement and implemented the [[SRS|Shared Registry System]] (SRS), the DOC also put a condition on the renewal of NSI's contract: the company would be able to automatically renew its contract for another four years as long as it separated its [[registry]] and registrar businesses. This was done in order to promote more competition in the domain space.<ref>[http://archive.icann.org/en/nsi/nsi-registry-agreement-04nov99.htm ICANN-NSI Registry Agreement]</ref>

===ICANN's Policy Change on Vertical Separation===

===ICANN's Policy Change on Vertical Separation===

On November 5, 2010, the [[ICANN Board]] passed a resolution allowing the removal of registry-registrar cross-ownership restriction for existing and new gTLDs.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/groups/board/documents/resolutions-05nov10-en.htm Special Meeting of the ICANN Board of Directors]</ref> Further explanation on this issue, vertical integration, is available [[Vertical Integration|here]].

On November 5, 2010, the [[ICANN Board]] passed a resolution allowing the removal of registry-registrar cross-ownership restriction for existing and new gTLDs.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/groups/board/documents/resolutions-05nov10-en.htm Special Meeting of the ICANN Board of Directors]</ref> Further explanation on this issue, vertical integration, is available [[Vertical Integration|here]].

==References==

==References==

{{Reflist}}

{{reflist}}</div>

== External Links ==

== External Links ==  

[http://gnso.icann.org/mailing-lists/archives/registrars/index.html GNSO Registrars' Constituency Mailing List]

[http://gnso.icann.org/mailing-lists/archives/registrars/index.html GNSO Registrars' Constituency Mailing List]

[[Category: Glossary]]

[[Category: Glossary]]