IP: 2 more years of NSI -- Press Release

[Dave Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>]

US Government Extends Network Solutions Cooperative Agreement through 
September 2000

HERNDON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 6, 1998--Network Solutions, Inc. 
(Nasdaq: NSOL - news) and officials from the Department of Commerce's 
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) have 
agreed to a two-year extension of the Cooperative Agreement between the US 
Government and Network Solutions with provisions to transition relevant US 
Government authority to a new non-profit corporation for coordination of 
some domain name system functions. 

As part of the agreement, Network Solutions and NTIA have agreed to a plan 
for the transition to a shared registration system in a phased approach 
beginning March 31, 1999 with full implementation by June 1, 1999. Network 
Solutions will build a shared registration system to support multiple 
licensed, accredited registrars offering registration services. Network 
Solutions and other domain name registrars will function as retailers of 
domain name registration services through Network Solutions' shared 
registration system. Network Solutions will also continue in its role as 
the registry -- or wholesaler -- of .com, .net and .org domain name 
registrations. Network Solutions has registered more than 2.3 million 
domain names, or Web addresses, in .com, .net, .org and .edu. 

Network Solutions has worked with the US Government pursuant to a five 
year Cooperative Agreement to develop and maintain some of the key 
administrative functions of the Internet including the domain name 
registration system. This new amendment extends the Cooperative Agreement 
through September 30, 2000. 

Other highlights from the extension include the following: 

*Network Solutions will submit a copy of all software and data generated 
under the Cooperative Agreement through September 30, 1998 to the US 
Government. *Once a shared registration system is implemented, pricing for 
Network Solutions' shared registry services for .com, .net, .org and .edu 
will be a specific dollar amount per registration, per year, and will be 
specified in a further amendment reflecting Network Solutions' costs and a 
reasonable return on its investment. *Following the finalization of the US 
Government's agreement with a new non-profit corporation -- also known as 
Newco -- that will act as a coordinating body for domain name system 
administrative functions, Network Solutions will negotiate a contractual 
relationship with Newco. *Network Solutions will continue to function as 
the administrator for the primary root server -- known as root server A -- 
for the root server system and as a root zone administrator until such 
time as the US Government instructs Network Solutions to transfer either or
 both of these functions to Newco or a specific alternate entity. 



Founded in 1979, Network Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq: NSOL - news) pioneered 
the development of registering Web addresses ending in .com, .net, .org 
and .edu. Network Solutions also provides enterprise network consulting 
services, focusing on network engineering, network security and network 
management solutions for commercial customers. For more information, see 
the http://www.networksolutions.com Web site. 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact: 


     Network Solutions, Inc.
     Media: Christopher Clough, 703/742-4706
     chrisc () netsol com
     Investor Relations: Bob Korzeniewski, 703/742-4741