18(c) What operating rules will you adopt to eliminate or minimize social costs?

Prototypical answer:

18.3

GED Domains LLC’s proposed operating rules to limit registration to authorized licensees and partners will provide a trusted online environment for GED® candidates. This limits the impact on trademark and brand owners to defensively register in the gTLD. This verified eco-system also provides candidates with a single repository of information for test preparation and test scheduling, with a substantially lower risk of fraud and⁄or scams.


GED Domains LLC believes that the proposed operation of the .GED gTLD as set forth in this application has no known negative consequences or cost implications on consumers. To the contrary, the proposed operation of this registry will likely lead to direct and quantifiable benefits to candidates, e.g. additional test preparation choices, consistent and accurate test information, a secure community of vetted providers, greater access to educational programs, etc.

18.3.1 How will multiple applications for a particular domain name be resolved, for example, by auction or on a first-come⁄first-serve basis?

GED Domains LLC does not envision multiple applicants for the same domain name. With an anticipated universe of only a couple of thousand domain names, there should not be any instances of multiple applicants for the same domain name. If such an instance should arise, GED Domains LLC would look at a number of potentially equitable allocations mechanisms that have been used in the domain name industry such as an Request for Proposal (RFP) to evaluate potential use cases in allocating the domain name.

18.3.2 Explain any cost benefits for registrants you intend to implement (e.g., advantageous pricing, introductory discounts, bulk registration discounts).

GED Domains LLC does not envision any pricing, introductory discounts, bulk registration discounts because these marketing⁄commercial initiatives are inconsistent with the mission and purpose of the .GED gTLD which is primarily a branded community. The .GED domain name is intended as a value added service to an existing commercial relationship between GED Testing Service and its licensees⁄partners.

18.3.3 Note that the Registry Agreement requires that registrars be offered the option to obtain initial domain name registrations for periods of one to ten years at the discretion of the registrar, but no greater than ten years. Additionally, the Registry Agreement requires advance written notice of price increases. Do you intend to make contractual commitments to registrants regarding the magnitude of price escalation? If so, please describe your plans.

GED Domains LLC is committed to providing the domain name registration periods set forth in the registry agreement. However, as noted above as a .brand gTLD the registration and use of the domain name is conditioned upon a separate partnership⁄licensee relationship with GED Testing Service. Therefore providing contractual commitments in a domain name registrant agreement regarding the magnitude of price escalations does not seem relevant or appropriate.

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