InterNIC Relaunched to Stir Competition
The Clinton administration took another step toward promoting competition in the lucrative business of registering Internet domain names by relaunching the InterNIC Web site (https://www.internic.net) with a listing of all the companies accredited to offer registration services.
The site, which was originally set up by the federal government, had been controlled by Network Solutions, the Herndon, Va.-based firm that for six years was the sole registrar of Internet names ending in “.com,” “.net” and “.org.” After competitors complained that it was unfair for the InterNIC address to direct Web surfers to Network Solutions’ site (https://www.networksolutions.com), the U.S. Commerce Department insisted that InterNIC once again become neutral territory.
Network Solutions will operate the site on behalf of the Commerce Department for the next several months before it is formally transferred back to the federal agency.
