Verisign and ICANN should reverse course on third-level .name domains

Verisign and ICANN face pushback after approving plans to discontinue third-level .name registrations (e.g., firstname.lastname.name). Verisign, which runs .name in addition to .com, cites limited registrar support and declining usage - about 22,000 third-level registrations remain, most reportedly unused - and has received reconsideration requests from at least two affected registrants. The decision would end support for long-held domains even when registrants have paid renewals, as in the case of a nearly 25-year registration slated for termination despite payment through 2040. Verisign frames the move as a cost-saving on a legacy product that generates negligible revenue compared with its projected $1.745-$1.755 billion in annual revenue and $1.185-$1.195 billion in operating income.

The argument against eliminating these names emphasizes reputational and security harms, and the duty of custodians to preserve DNS stability. Longtime holders use these domains for websites, email, and account recovery across banks, subscriptions, and services; termination would force widespread credential updates and risks account loss or interception if second-level names become available to others. A practical compromise proposed is to freeze new third-level registrations while grandfathering existing ones, preserving registrant expectations at minimal cost and maintaining trust in Verisign and ICANN’s stewardship.