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NETWORK SOLUTIONS ENDORSES ICANN BOARD VOTE
AGREEMENT AFFIRMS STABLE AND SECURE MANAGEMENT
FOR INTERNET'S KEY INFRASTRUCTURE
LOS ANGELES, NOVEMBER 4, 1999 - Network Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: NSOL) today
acknowledged the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)
board vote approving and affirming the September 28, 1999 agreements among
Network Solutions (NSI), the U.S. Department of Commerce and ICANN following a
30-day comment period and open public sessions held here.
"We are pleased with the ICANN board vote that we believe is in the best
interests of the Internet community, Network Solutions, the U.S. Government and
ICANN," said Michael A. Daniels, Network Solutions' chairman. "Through
negotiations leading to these agreements we have set the foundation for ICANN as
a standards-setting body that will have a significant role in coordination of
key infrastructure issues and that will ensure the future growth of global
e-commerce. We look forward to working with ICANN and the Internet community as
NSI takes a leadership role in shaping the continued coordination and management
of these key issues."
The agreements were posted for a 30-day public comment period on the ICANN Web
site at http://www.icann.org prior to the ICANN board's final approval today.
"These historic agreements are both a beginning and an end. They bring an end to
the uncertainty that has surrounded the policies of the critical components of
the Net's infrastructure, and they also are the green light for a whole host of
new competitors, services and products in the Internet identity marketplace,"
said Jim Rutt, Network Solutions' CEO. "We are confident that our position will
enable us to grow the company's core business while at the same time to offer an
increasing variety of value-added services through our Registrar and new
services from our Registry business."
The agreements consist of: (1) a Registry Agreement between ICANN and NSI; (2) a
Registrar Accreditation Agreement between ICANN and all registrars in .com,
.net, and .org; (3) a post-testbed Registrar License and Agreement between NSI
as registry and registrar; (4) an amendment to the Cooperative Agreement between
the Department of Commerce and NSI; and (5) an amendment to the Memorandum of
Understanding between the Department of Commerce and ICANN.
Among the key provisions set forth in the agreements are:
- NSI will recognize ICANN and agree to operate the .com, .net and .org
registries in accordance with the Registry Agreement between ICANN and NSI
and future consensus policies adopted by ICANN
- NSI agrees to become an ICANN accredited registrar for the .com, .net and
.org domains. The ICANN accreditation agreement has been revised to include
improvements suggested by registrars during the testbed phase
- NSI has agreed to participate in the funding of ICANN through registry and
registrar fees, provided that they are equitably apportioned
- All accredited registrars (including NSI) will provide continued methods
for public access to "Whois" data
- The InterNIC Web site will be maintained as a public information site with
a directory of links to accredited registrars
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ABOUT ICANN
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is the
non-profit corporation that was formed to assume responsibility for the IP
address space allocation, protocol parameter assignment, and domain name system
management functions now performed under U.S. Government contract by IANA and
other entities.
ABOUT NETWORK SOLUTIONS
Founded in 1979, Network Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: NSOL) pioneered the
development of registering Web addresses ending in .com, .net, .org and .edu.
Network Solutions also provides Internet Technology Services that assist large
commercial organizations in the evolution and management of their Internet
technologies. For more information, see the www.networksolutions.com Web site.
Network Solutions is the world's leading registrar, with more than 6.5 million
net registrations. Network Solutions registers the majority of Web addresses
worldwide through various channels including nearly 220 companies in over 30
countries in its Premier program. Network Solutions has created value-added
small business solutions through agreements with leading companies such as
American Express (NYSE: AXP) and Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT). Through its Alliance
Program, Network Solutions works closely with EarthLink (NASDAQ: ELNK),
MindSpring Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ: MSPG), Interliant, Inc. (formerly Sage
Networks, Inc.) (NASDAQ: INIT), ValueWeb (NASDAQ: ESPI) and Interland, Inc.
Network Solutions also has entered into marketing agreements with companies
like Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ: YHOO).
For Network Solutions, Media: Brian O'Shaughnessy, brianos@netsol.com, (703)
326-6076; Investor Relations: Sean McClorey, smcclorey@netsol.com, (703)
326-6090.
For IBM Global Services Media: Rusty Carpenter rcarpen@us.ibm.com , (813)
293-2554.
Statements in this announcement other than historical data and information
constitute forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that
could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated or implied by
such forward-looking statements. The potential risks and uncertainties include,
among others, uncertainty of Internet governance and regulation, increased
competition in the domain name registration business, customer acceptance of new
products and services offered by the company in addition to or as enhancements
of its registration services, risks associated with the company's international
business, uncertainty of future revenue and profitability and fluctuations in
its quarterly operating results. More information about potential factors that
could affect the company's business and financial results is included in the
company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, especially in the
company's Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed on January 4, 1999, as
amended, Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the periods ended March 31 and June 30, 1999.