An international committee organized by the Internet Society recently recommended that new registrars be established to compete with Network Solutions. Network Solutions consistently has declined to discuss profitability. Last year, it retained investment bankers and disclosed it was considering an initial public offering of stock. Network Solutions is a subsidiary of Science Applications International Corp., a San Diego defense contractor. Network Solutions and the NSF have not appointed the committee that would oversee the spending.
Domains are the Internet's equivalent of telephone numbers or exchanges.
They allow computer users to find specific pages on the Internet's graphical World Wide Web and to send electronic mail to its intended recipients. Not all of those payments were due by Nov. 30. Network Solutions accepts payment as late as 30 days after a domain is activated, according to the company's Web site. The company last year cut off thousands of domains for non-payment. It also has experienced some billing problems.