Editing Network Solutions (section)

==History==
Network Solutions started as a technology consulting company incorporated by [[Emmit McHenry]] with Ty Grigsby, Gary Desler and Ed Peters in [[Washington, D.C.]], in 1979.<ref name="Coleman-2012">{{cite news |first1=Lauren DeLisa |last1=Coleman |url=https://thegrio.com/2012/06/28/black-founders-of-internet-domain-registry-network-solutions-reminisce-on-racial-barriers-in-tech-sector/ |title=Black founder of Internet domain registry, Network Solutions, reminisces on racial barriers in tech sector |work=[[The Grio]] |date=June 28, 2012}}</ref>{{Better citation needed |date=August 2020 |reason=We originally had 1 January 1979, then January 1979, but the Grio source has just 1979. I'm unable to find a non-circular source that confirms anything more specific than 1979. Is there one?}}

In its first few years, the company focused on systems programming services, primarily in the [[IBM]] environment. Annual revenues passed $1 million in 1982, growing to $18.5 million in 1986.

Network Solutions, Inc. (NSI) first operated the [[domain name system]] (DNS) registry under a sub-contract with the U.S. [[Defense Information Systems Agency]] (DISA) in September 1991.  NSI gave out names in the .com, .org, .mil, .gov, .edu and .net [[Top Level Domain]]s (TLDs) for free, along with free [[Internet Protocol]] (IP) address blocks. <!--This work was performed at the [[Chantilly, Virginia]], offices of GSI, the primary contractor, a corporation formed by Infonet to avoid foreign ownership of U.S. government contracts.{{citation needed |date=April 2011}} *** Who is GSI? Who is Infonet? Confused as to which relationship "primary contractor" refers to. Cite needed for 9 years, so removing it-->
The [[InterNIC|Network Information Center]] at [[SRI International]] had performed the work under [[Elizabeth J. Feinler]] since 1972.<ref name="SRI-2000-Feinler">{{cite web |title=Elizabeth J. Feinler |work=Alumni Hall of Fame |year=2000 |url= http://www.sri.com/about/alumni/alumni-hall-fame-2000#Feinler |publisher=[[SRI International]] |access-date=2013-06-13 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130201140923/http://www.sri.com/about/alumni/alumni-hall-fame-2000#Feinler |archive-date=2013-02-01 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 1992, NSI was the sole bidder on a grant from the [[National Science Foundation]] (NSF) to further develop the [[domain name registration]] service for the Internet. In 1993, NSI was granted an exclusive contract by the NSF to be the sole [[domain name registrar]] for .com (commerce), .net (network) and .org (organization) TLDs, a continuation of work NSI had already been doing.<ref name="ct">{{cite web|title=History of DNS|url=http://www.cybertelecom.org/dns/history.htm|publisher=cybertelecom.org|access-date=2008-04-05}}</ref> NSI also maintained the central database of assigned names called [[WHOIS]]. A contract was given to [[Boeing]] to operate the .mil TLD registry, and was also performed by NSI under subcontract.

In May 1993, the NSF privatized the domain name registry; Network Solutions was the only bidder on the $5.9 million annual contract to administer it.

In March 1995, the company was acquired by [[Science Applications International Corporation]] (SAIC) for $4.7 million. At that time, the company managed 60,000 domain names.<ref name="Bigelow-2009">{{cite news | url=https://xconomy.com/san-diego/2009/07/29/the-untold-story-of-saic-network-solutions-and-the-rise-of-the-web-part-1/ | title=The Untold Story of SAIC, Network Solutions, and the Rise of the Web—Part 1 | first=Bruce V. | last=Bigelow | work=[[Xconomy]] | date=July 29, 2009}}</ref>

Following the acquisition by SAIC, the NSF gave Network Solutions authority to charge for domain name registrations. Network Solutions imposed a charge of $100 for two years' registration. 30% of this revenue went to the NSF to create an "Internet Intellectual Infrastructure Fund".<ref name="ct"/><ref>{{cite web|title=FTC Staff Advisory Letter from David Medine to David Graves|url=http://www.ftc.gov/os/1997/08/internic.let.htm|publisher=[[Federal Trade Commission]]|access-date=2008-04-05|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080530231517/http://www.ftc.gov/os/1997/08/internic.let.htm|archive-date=2008-05-30}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title=Domain name solution causes new problems|journal = Computer|volume = 32|issue = 10|pages = 11–15|publisher=[[IEEE]]|doi = 10.1109/MC.1999.796102|year = 1999|last1 = Leavitt|first1 = N.| s2cid=7652492 }}</ref> In 1997, a lawsuit was filed charging Network Solutions with antitrust violations with regard to domain names.<ref>{{cite web|title=Network Solutions sued for domain-name antitrust|url=http://sunsite.uakom.sk/sunworldonline/swol-04-1997/swol-04-nsi.html|publisher=sunsite.uakom.sk|access-date=2008-04-05}}</ref> The 30% of the registration fee that went to the NSF was ruled by a court to be an illegal tax.<ref>{{cite web|title=Internet Domain Name Fee Ruled Illegal|url=http://www.courttv.com/archive/legaldocs/cyberlaw/nsi.html|publisher=[[Court TV]]|access-date=2008-04-05|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080221123548/http://www.courttv.com/archive/legaldocs/cyberlaw/nsi.html|archive-date=2008-02-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Judge rules domain fees illegal|url=http://news.com/Judge+rules+domain+fees+illegal/2100-1023_3-210006.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120730063033/http://news.com/Judge+rules+domain+fees+illegal/2100-1023_3-210006.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 30, 2012|publisher=news.com|access-date=2008-04-05}}</ref> This led to a reduction in the domain name registration fee to $70<ref name="Lake-2000">{{cite news |title=How to Get Your Own Domain Name |url=http://archives.cnn.com/2000/TECH/computing/06/08/get.own.domain.idg/index.html |work=[[CNN]] |access-date=2020-08-19 |first1=Matt |last1=Lake |date=2000-06-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080317143942/http://archives.cnn.com/2000/TECH/computing/06/08/get.own.domain.idg/index.html |archive-date=2008-03-17 }}</ref> (for two years).<ref "Kornblum-1998">{{cite news |title=Domain fees lowered |url=http://news.com/2100-1023-209138.html?legacy=cnet |last1=Kornblum |first1=Janet |date=1998-03-16 |work=[[CNET]] |access-date=2008-04-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006015852/http://news.cnet.com/2100-1023-209138.html |archive-date=2012-10-06 |quote=...&nbsp;30 percent less to register domain names&nbsp;... }}</ref>

Network Solutions also implemented a policy of censoring domain names. This came to light when Jeff Gold attempted to register the domain name shitakemushrooms.com but was unable to. Network Solutions' automated screening system blocked the registration "because it contains four letters they consider obscene", though the domain name 'shit.com' had been successfully registered.<ref name="Festa-1998">{{cite news |last1=Festa |first1=Paul |title=Food domain found 'obscene' |url=http://news.cnet.com/2100-1023-210566.html |access-date=2020-08-19 |work=[[CNET]] |date=April 27, 1998 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120716142634/http://news.com.com/2100-1023-210566.html |archive-date=2012-07-16}}</ref> Network Solutions argued that it was within its [[First Amendment]] rights to block words it found offensive, even though it was operating pursuant to contract with a Federal agency.<ref name="ct" /><ref name="Festa-1999">{{cite news |last1=Festa |first1=Paul |title=NSI lets a bad word slip |url=http://news.com.com/2100-1023-222093.html |access-date=2020-08-19 |work=[[CNET]] |date=February 23, 1999 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120712011603/http://news.com.com/2100-1023-222093.html |archive-date=12 July 2012}}</ref>

Network Solutions' $100 charge and its monopoly position in the market were contributing pressures that resulted in the creation of the [[International Ad Hoc Committee]] and a failed attempt to take control of the domain name system, and to the [[U.S. Department of Commerce]] and [[National Telecommunications and Information Administration]] (NTIA) releasing a [[white paper]] and ultimately contracting with the [[ICANN|Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers]] (ICANN) to administer the DNS.

In September 1997, the Network Solutions ({{NASDAQ was|NSOL}}) became a [[public company]] via an [[initial public offering]] (IPO).<ref name="NASDAQ-NSOL-IPO">{{cite web |url=https://www.nasdaq.com/markets/ipos/company/network-solutions-inc-de-5435-9042 |title=NETWORK SOLUTIONS INC /DE/ (NSOL) IPO |website=[[NASDAQ]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160502140833/https://www.nasdaq.com/markets/ipos/company/network-solutions-inc-de-5435-9042 |archive-date=2016-05-02 |access-date=2020-08-19 }}</ref>

After the formation of [[ICANN]] in 1998, the domain name industry opened up to partial competition, with NSI retaining its monopoly on .com, .net and .org but having to recognize a separation between the functions of a registry, which manages the underlying database of domain names, and that of a registrar, which acts as a retail provider of domain names. To achieve this separation, NSI created a "firewall" between the two new divisions of the business, creating separate technical infrastructure, organizations, and facilities. By the end of 1999 the fee for registration had been reduced, from $34.99,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.darksunlight.com/webhosting/cadav3r/seo/articles/history_of_domain_names.html |title=History of Domain Names |access-date=2010-11-11 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20110708233015/http://www.darksunlight.com/webhosting/cadav3r/seo/articles/history_of_domain_names.html |archive-date=2011-07-08 |url-status=dead }}</ref> to a wholesale rate of $6 per year to registered resellers.

In May 1999, [[Jim Rutt]] was named chief executive officer of the company; he stepped down in February 2001.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/2001/02/27/network-solutions-ceo-to-step-down/fe143065-4c4a-4354-afae-4ffb7f9b69a4/ | title=Network Solutions CEO to Step Down | first=Dina | last=ElBoghdady | newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] | date=February 27, 2001 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

In 2000, at the peak of the [[dot-com bubble]], the company was acquired by [[VeriSign]] for $21 billion in stock ({{NASDAQ|VRSN}}).<ref name="Non-2000">{{cite news | url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/verisign-buys-network-solutions-for-21b/ | title=VeriSign buys Network Solutions for $21B | first=Sergio G. | last=Non | work=[[ZDNet]] | date=March 7, 2000}}</ref>

On October 17, 2003, VeriSign announced the sale of Network Solutions to Pivotal Equity Group for $100 million.<ref name="Musgrove-2003">{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/2003/10/17/verisign-to-sell-registrar-unit-for-100-million/4f70639b-1265-4190-b61e-15f1fe09e303/ | title=VeriSign to Sell Registrar Unit For $100 Million | first=Mike | last=Musgrove | newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] | date=October 17, 2003 |url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref name="Schwartz-2003">{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/17/business/technology-verisign-sells-an-operation-that-registers-net-addresses.html | title=VeriSign Sells An Operation That Registers Net Addresses |first1=John |last1=Schwartz |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=October 17, 2003}}</ref>{{Clarify |date=August 2020|reason=Per [[WP:SURPRISE]], shouldn't we discuss what sources surely said about VRSN losing $20.9B (99.5%) of its $21B investment in under 3 years?! Also, https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2011/08/03/network-solutions-sold-to-webcom.html (cited for the web.com deal) says the buyer here was "the Najafi companies".}}

In January 2006, Network Solutions acquired MonsterCommerce, an [[e-commerce]] company in the [[Greater St. Louis]] area.<ref name="Desloge-2005">{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2005/12/19/story3.html | title=MonsterCommerce bought by giant Network Solutions | first=Rick | last=Desloge | work=[[American City Business Journals]] | date=December 18, 2005}}</ref><ref name="Hamblen-2005">{{cite news |url=https://www.computerworld.com/article/2560944/it-management/network-solutions-buys-monstercommerce.html |title=Network Solutions buys MonsterCommerce | first=Matt | last=Hamblen | work=[[Computerworld]] |date=December 16, 2005}}</ref>

In February 2007, [[General Atlantic]], a [[private equity firm]], acquired the company for a reported $800 million.<ref>{{cite press release | url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20070206005943/en/Network-Solutions-Announces-Ownership-Change | title=Network Solutions Announces Ownership Change | publisher=[[Business Wire]] | date=February 6, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=How Najafi Cos. Hit The Buyout Jackpot | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB118048898651218036 | first=Pui-Wing | last=Tam | work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] | date=May 30, 2007 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

In January 2008, Roy Dunbar was appointed CEO.<ref>{{cite press release | url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20080117005693/en/Network-Solutions-Names-W.-Roy-Dunbar-CEO | title=Network Solutions Names W. Roy Dunbar as CEO | publisher=[[Business Wire]] | date=January 17, 2008}}</ref>

On November 2, 2009, Tim Kelly, president of the company, replaced Dunbar as CEO. Dunbar continued to act as chairman and advisor to the company.<ref>{{cite press release | url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20091102005726/en/Network-Solutions-Names-Tim-Kelly-Chief-Executive | title=Network Solutions Names Tim Kelly as Chief Executive Officer | publisher=[[Business Wire]] | date=November 2, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2009/11/02/daily19.html | title=Network Solutions names Tim Kelly CEO | first=Darlene | last=Darcy | work=[[American City Business Journals]] | date=November 2, 2009}}</ref>

In August 2011, [[Web.com]] announced the acquisition of the company for $405 million and 18 million shares of newly issued Web.com stock ({{NASDAQ was|WWWW}}), which closed at $8.66 per share before the announcement, for a total purchase price of about $560&nbsp;million.<ref name="Flook-20110803">{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2011/08/03/network-solutions-sold-to-webcom.html | title=Network Solutions sold to Web.com for $405M and stock | work=[[American City Business Journals]] | first=Bill | last=Flook | date=August 3, 2011 |access-date=2020-08-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release | url=https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2011/08/03/453070/228502/en/Web-com-to-Acquire-Network-Solutions.html | title=Web.com to Acquire Network Solutions | publisher=[[Globe Newswire]] | date=August 3, 2011}}</ref> The acquisition was completed on October 27, 2011.<ref>{{cite press release | url=https://ir.web.com/news-releases/news-release-details/webcom-announces-completion-network-solutions-acquisition | title=Web.com Announces Completion of Network Solutions Acquisition | publisher=[[Web.com]] | date=October 27, 2011}}</ref>

This was immediately followed by the departure of CEO Kelly and other leadership. Large-scale employee layoffs began the following day as well. By December 31, 2011, over half of the office space in the Herndon, Virginia, headquarters had been vacated, and on March 31, 2012, the company's Belleville, Illinois, office was closed.<ref>{{cite news
 | url = http://www.isphub.com/2012/02/internet-service-provider-closing-metro-east-office/
 | title = Internet service provider closing metro-east office
 | newspaper = [[Belleville News-Democrat]]
 | access-date = 2012-02-10
 | date=2011-08-03}}</ref>

In June 2020, Network Solutions revoked the domain name registration of two [[hate sites]] ([[VDARE]] and niggermania.com) after receiving a demand letter from the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, a civil rights organization.<ref name=“hate”>{{cite web|url= https://www.lawyerscommittee.org/lawyers-committee-for-civil-rights-under-law-forces-two-white-supremacist-websites-to-shut-down/|title=Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Forces Two White Supremacist Websites to Shut Down|date=June 23, 2020 }}</ref>

On April 24, 2025, [[Web.com]] announced its merger with Network Solutions, with the Web.com brand transitioning to operate under the Network Solutions name. This strategic consolidation is part of a broader initiative by their [[parent company]], [[Newfold Digital]], to streamline its portfolio of brands. Newfold Digital has undertaken similar integrations, merging brands such as [[iPage]], HostMonster, FatCow, and JustHost into its leading [[web hosting provider]], [[Bluehost]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Team |first=Web com |date=2025-04-24 |title=Web.com is becoming Network Solutions |url=https://www.web.com/blog/webdotcom-becomes-network-solutions/ |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=Web.com Blog |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-27 |title=Web.com Merges with Network Solutions: A Major Shift in Web Hosting |url=https://hostdean.com/news/web-com-merges-network-solutions/ |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=HostDean |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Allemann |first=Andrew |date=2025-04-24 |title=Newfold is killing the Web.com brand, accounts will migrate to Network Solutions |url=https://domainnamewire.com/2025/04/24/newfold-is-killing-the-web-com-brand-accounts-will-migrate-to-network-solutions/ |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=Domain Name Wire {{!}} Domain Name News |language=en-US}}</ref>