InterNic vs Network Solutions - 
Are they one in the same???

From 1997 to Summer 1999, all domain names were reserved/registered through one organization called InterNic and a company called Network Solutions (NSI) -NSI was the government-appointed company who facilitated the actual domain name registrations/reservations.  So at that time, it was easy to think that Internic was synonomous with Network Solutions...but that's not true anymore.

Since May, 1999, the US Government proposed that a private, non-profit organization be formed to handle the DNS system.  ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers)  is the name of the organization that oversees these new systems.  The deprivatization of domain name registration had opened new markets up to stimulate competition, prices and services.

So the answer to the question "Is InterNic is the same as Network Solutions" - the answer is NO.   InterNic is a concept for an integrated network information center that was developed by several companies, including Network Solutions, in cooperation with the U.S. Government.  InterNic's role is to coordinate the "Shared Registry System" (SRS) or Domain Name System to maintain the database of top level .com, .net, and .org domain names.

Under a recent agreement with the U.S. Government, Network Solutions is transitioning from the use of the word "InterNIC" in connection with its products and services. InterNIC is a registered service mark of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Just make things a little more confusing, Network Solutions currently has the contract to run InterNic.  But that still does not mean that InterNic = Network Solutions - Network Solutions is still only 1 of many competing domain name registrars that are ICANN-accredited domain name registrars.

Network Solutions would like you to believe that they are the same as InterNic and  that they are the ONLY place that can register domain names (like in the old days) to keep you as one of their registrar customers and to keep you paying high domain name registration and renewal fees.  But, this is certainly not true...  you now have a choice to go shopping for your domain name registrar. 

So make the right choice...
by simply transferring your domain name to 1-2-3-domain-names.com..