They call themselves Network Solutions, Inc., of Herndon, Virginia. They have the worldwide monopoly for domain registration. Their apparent stranglehold on websites is called InterNIC Registration Services. Here is how it works.
Most domain names are all in lower cases with the words run together without spaces.
That is how the computer reads it. At the same time, if you want to pick an easy to remember and use name for your website, the ISP, etc., will check with Network Solutions to see if someone else already has that domain registered. The ISP, etc., typically, get 50 to 100 dollars for forwarding the domain registration form to Network Solutions. Supposing your original choice for a web host server, ISP, etc., turned out to be a firm that merges with a larger service. You may have trouble logging on.