Why hasn't any public institution or foundation come up with the proposal of a low-cost TLD domain?<p>Domain registration is getting expensive every year. Why not build a TLD that would guarantee a fixed yearly renewal price (e.g., a 10$/year).<p>That would seem like a reasonable project for the Web Foundation, EFF, or some other philanthropic foundation.<p>Domain squatting would have to be managed somehow.
Also the low cost TLDs on namecheap are such a scam, especially the .host TLD. They are like $1 for first year and 20x or even 100x for the 2nd year onwards. So it's best to check the cost for 5 years before you fall for the $1 trap.<p>BTW as to your point I totally agree that it should be much cheaper than this. Namecheap at one time had a promotion where they allowed you to register for 10 years for $10 or something. So it's definitely doable and most probably as soft limit by the registrars.
$10 is actually high. If you don't care what TLD it is, get a german ccTLD. Prices start at €2.50, all you need is an adminc in Germany, which many registrars will happily provide.<p>> Domain squatting would have to be managed somehow.<p>Good luck ;)
Lots of common TLDs already range 5-15 USD/year where I'm at, not sure why that's a problem tbh. For normal users with one-N domains that seems like reasonable pricing.<p>>Domain squatting would have to be managed somehow.<p>There's a bunch of free TLDs out there (e.g. dot.tk). While they were more popular years back domain squatting, at least from my experience back then, was the least of their problems. The amount of malware and generally illegal content spread through these made them really unattractive.
This already exists. Try <a href="https://www.namecheap.com/domains/registration/results.aspx?domain=mynewprojectiscool" rel="nofollow">https://www.namecheap.com/domains/registration/results.aspx?...</a><p>Prices go as low as $1.23. A .com is under $8.
Although I've heard urban legends questioning the efficacy of keeping them long term, dot.tk and another registrars are simply free for at least four TLD's.