Registrars are trashing VeriSign's proposal to create a pricey waiting list for registered domains, calling it too expensive and anti-competitive. A consortium of registrars summarized its concerns in a letter submitted to VeriSign late in the day on Friday. 

VeriSign is seeking a one-year trial period for the waiting list, promising to scrap the idea after that if registrars aren't happy with it. It is working with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to gauge reaction to the proposal, promising to work within that organization's mandate for establishing consensus on new practices among interested parties.

"The proposal is full of holes," said Ross Rader, director of research at Tucows, the No. 2 registrar by volume after VeriSign. "As it currently stands, it's not something we can support in any way. The fact that it comes from a monopoly provider is unacceptable."

Under the proposal, VeriSign's registry would charge registrars $40 for first dibs on a registered domain name. A subscriber would be guaranteed first crack at the name if it became available, but would still have to pay up even if the current owner decided to renew their subscription. Registrars would be free to set their own retail price for the service, which some predict could go as high as $100. 

Many called that price too high. "The price is not justified," said Elana Broitman, policy director at Register.com, another leading registrar. 

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