When we setup Network Computing magazine, we wanted to provide Internet email addresses for our editors and staff. The easiest way to do so was through a link to a university. We were ahead of our time, to be sure. They had been granted this charter by our government, back long ago just after Al Gore invented the Internet. But these simple and monopolistic days are quickly coming to an end.
Capitalism is a wonderful thing to see.
Now Network Solutions has competition for registering the dot-coms too. Over a dozen companies, including many from outside the US, can register and even host your domain for you. You can register for a single year or up to ten years at a time. I took a look at several dozen of these registrars. I found a confusing state of affairs .