ICANN, the body that manages the internet’s domain name system, confirmed yesterday that current .net operator VeriSign will retain control of the top-level domain for the next six years, news that will upset those who say VeriSign is too powerful.

The .net registry had been up for grabs because VeriSign's existing registry agreement with ICANN expires on 30th June 2005.

But the award is controversial, not least because it ensures that control of one of the most successful top-level domains remains with a company that already controls the .com registry – by far the most popular in the world. Critics fear that retaining the .net registry will make the company more powerful still.

As the registry for the .com and .net domains, VeriSign routes more than 14 billion domain name system (DNS) inquiries every day, four billion of which are .net queries. It also acts as registry for the lower profile domains .cc and .tv.

Reports suggest that the .net domain will net VeriSign around $20 million a year, on top of the $225 it is reputed to make annually for the .com domain.

There have also been questions raised about the evaluation process used by ICANN to assess the five applicants who put themselves forward as potential .net operators.

In an attempt to assuage concerns, ICANN stressed yesterday that it had considered the entire bidding process, an independent evaluator's report, internet community comments and the terms of the new agreement before reaching its decision.

It has also published a paper detailing the entire decision making process (25-page PDF).

The US Department of Commerce is expected to approve the appointment without objection.

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