NeuStar’s Response to Solicitation # NTIA9110712841 C. Description of Services (C.1, C.1.1) NeuStar will perform the required services as prime Contractor. In certain limited areas and with the prior approval of the DoC, NeuStar will continue to provide the required services by coordinating the services of subcontractors. NeuStar was founded and is based in the United States. NeuStar is a leading provider of essential clearinghouse services to the global communications and Internet industry. Incorporated in Delaware and traded on the NYSE (NSR), NeuStar’s corporate headquarters and primary operations are based out of Sterling, Virginia. NeuStar was founded in 1996, and provides the North American communications industry with essential clearinghouse services. We operate the authoritative directories that manage virtually all telephone area codes and numbers, and enable the dynamic routing of calls among thousands of competing communications service providers (CSPs) in the United States and Canada. All telecommunications service providers (TSPs), as well as CSPs that offer telecommunications services to the public at large, must access our clearinghouse as one of our customers to properly route virtually all of their calls. We also provide clearinghouse services to emerging CSPs, including Internet service providers, cable television operators, and voice over Internet protocol, or VoIP, service providers. In addition, we manage the authoritative directories for the .us and .biz Internet domains, as well as for Common Short Codes, part of the short messaging service (SMS) relied upon by the U.S. wireless industry. NeuStar provides all of the primary usTLD domain name registry services in the United States. Based on our knowledge and as of the date of the writing of this response, NeuStar and the .com/.net registry operator are the only two domain name registry operators with both physical addresses and all primary registry services operations in the United States. Additionally, NeuStar is also one of only two domain name registry providers that can affirmatively state that all of its primary registry operations are currently provided “in-house”. As it relates to subcontractors, a Quoter that cannot demonstrate prior to selection that it already has all relationships and contracts in place at the time of its proposal cannot adequately transition the usTLD in a secure or reliable fashion and would place the usTLD and its community of millions of Internet users at risk. Listed below are the subcontractors NeuStar will use in the performance of usTLD administration and registry operations as set forth in this Response. • American Arbitration Association (AAA)—The AAA provides administrative services in the U.S., as well as abroad through its International Centre for Dispute Resolution ® (ICDR). The AAA's and ICDR's administrative services include assisting in the appointment of mediators and arbitrators, setting hearings, and providing users with information on dispute resolution options, including settlement through mediation. The AAA provides domain name dispute resolution services related to the registration or use of a usTLD domain name in violation of the usDRP or the usTLD Nexus policy and rules. • National Arbitration Forum (NAF)—The National Arbitration Forum, an industry leader in arbitration and mediation services for over 20 years, is an expert in the resolution of Internet- NeuStar Proprietary and Confidential B-10 NeuStar’s Response to Solicitation # NTIA9110712841 based disputes. An innovator in the industry, the National Arbitration Forum serves as one of three primary providers of the ICANN domain name dispute resolution program, resolving issues involving disputed trademarks. The NAF provides domain name dispute resolution services related to the registration or use of a usTLD domain name in violation of the usDRPor the usTLD Nexus policy. In addition, NAF also offers content dispute resolution services for the kids.us domain name space. • Kidsnet, Inc.—Based in Jacksonville, Florida, Kidsnet is a subsidiary of BluePrint Data that provides Internet web filtering, content management, and security services. On March 3, 2004, NeuStar announced the selection of Kidsnet, Inc as the Content Manager for the kids.us domain space. NeuStar and Kidsnet have teamed to ensure that the kids.us web sites that children experience online are safe, age appropriate, and meet all kids.us content guidelines, requirements, and restrictions. Established in 1997, Kidsnet, Inc. has developed the world’s largest database of reviewed web pages containing over 193,000,000 reviewed web pages and continues to grow. The company utilizes the Internet Content Rating Association System (ICRA) standards and augments those with types of specific content parents are concerned about such as Alcohol Promotion and Weapons. • Iron Mountain—Iron Mountain Incorporated (NYSE:IRM) helps organizations around the world reduce the costs and risks associated with information protection and storage. The Company offers comprehensive records management, data protection, and information destruction solutions along with the expertise and experience to address complex information challenges such as rising storage costs, litigation, regulatory compliance and disaster recovery. They will continue to provide third-party data escrow services for usTLD administration. • Firstlook (originally Vendare) – Firstlook is a wholly owned subsidiary of Connexus, and is focused on acquiring, developing, and optimizing niche websites. Connexus, founded in 1999, is the union of Vendare Media and Netblue. It is headquartered in El Segundo and Mountain View, CA, with an additional presence in New York City. First look has offices in both location. Each month, over 50 million users visit Firstlook’s network of targeted websites, generating over 25 million searches. Due to Firstlook’s business strength within the Internet search and navigation arena, and the breath of their business, technical, and creative experience, NeuStar selected and partnered with Firstlook to fulfill the mission of marketing the usTLD postal code domain space. Our joint mission is to create a reliable, sustainable, targeted, and robust portal experience for United States citizens, residents, companies, local governments, consumers, small business, and others who wish to find local results when they navigate to a “postalcode.us” domain name on the Internet. • Packet Clearinghouse (PCH)—is non-profit research institute that supports operations and analysis in Internet traffic exchange. PCH has assisted in the establishment of Internet exchange points (IXPs) in the U.S. and the developing world and, as a consequence, maintains operating infrastructure in these locations. Originally formed in 1994 to provide efficient regional and local network interconnection alternatives for the west coast of the United States, PCH has since grown to become the leading proponent of neutral independent network interconnection and provider of route-servers at major exchange points worldwide. NeuStar Proprietary and Confidential B-11 NeuStar’s Response to Solicitation # NTIA9110712841 Today, PCH provides equipment, training, data, and operational support to organizations and individual researchers seeking to improve the quality, robustness, and accessibility of the Internet. NeuStar Proprietary and Confidential B-12 NeuStar’s Response to Solicitation # NTIA9110712841 C.2 Operation of the usTLD NeuStar will continue to provide the necessary 5.1.1.1.1.1.1Highlights HIGHLIG Text personnel, materials, equipment, services, and facilities to perform the usTLD Administrator function without As the usTLD Administrator, NeuStar any cost to the U.S. Government and with no change to will continue to: the existing fee structure. • Provide service that is delivered at no cost to the U.S. government and Maintaining the integrity and viability of the usTLD is priced fairly and reasonably to the requires the Administrator to provide a useful, usTLD Registrars comprehensive service at a fair and reasonable price to • Serve as a partner to the DoC, all relevant stakeholders while managing all usTLD working in collaboration with the policies. It is crucial that the fees remain reasonable and Contracting Officer and the COTR that the usTLD administration is continually reviewed • Minimize the effort required by the for any necessary improvements or changes to policy, DoC while maximizing value to the administrative, or technical infrastructure. NeuStar DoC and the overall usTLD understands the established process for submitting community proposals for possible contract modification and we will • Leverage our expertise and strong continue to work closely with the Contracting Officer working relationship with the COTR (CO) and the COTR. to ensure that improvements are made to the space quickly and with C.2.1 NeuStar Provides Service at Fair and quality as required. Reasonable Fees NeuStar as the usTLD Administrator has successfully managed the usTLD domain under the DoC’s supervision at no cost to the U.S. Government. We have a proven track record of providing usTLD registration and resolution services, including deploying all necessary personnel, equipment, services and facilities while covering operational expenses through the collection of fees from usTLD registrars. NeuStar’s fees, detailed in Section M of this proposal, are reasonable and comparable to the fees charged for other TLDs. Considering that the usTLD is rich in policy and administration