No, it's not a regular ".com" domain. It's the new gTLDs that will be opened up to the public in 2012. Anyone can get these gTLD (generic-top-level-domain). But, it'll cost you.
ICANN will take a hefty minimum $185,000 fee plus a recurring $25,000 per annum per gTLD to just have the right to become a registrar. Plus, the cost to actually operate one, that won't be cheap either. One is then looking at well over $210,000 to manage and sell domains.
Isn't that a big rip off? ICANN supposedly requires this fee to "ensure that the program is fully funded". We are sure they will be fully funded with those kinds of fees.
With all the hype about net-neutrality and keeping things open and free, shouldn't the gTLD's also be made open and free - allowing anyone to register for one without such high barriers to entry?
Making it expensive will ensure that only big companies with big pockets can get into the game, such as Cannon's application for the ".canon" domain. Perhaps, Panasonic will register a "betterThan.canon" domain. Nope, that won't happen. Cannon will essentially hog the word .canon and make it private and/or charge ridiculous amounts of money to whom ever it wants. Where's the "free internet" in that?
Shouldn't ICANN instead concentrate more on efforts to stop cyber squatting and make it easier for individuals and organizations big and small in these legal matters related to domain disputes? We are sure Oracle would love to get Oracle.net.
PS: Let's also not forget the $0.25 per domain fee that registrars must pay ICANN! Someone please get out a calculator and multiply that with some numbers, that's a lot of money!