Address space for individuals

> I can't see this. Don't take it as buying but paying sort of tax for it.

Nope. As Simon says, governments raise taxes, not private organisations.
If charging is to be run on a cost-recovery basis (and I can't myself
see any desire to do otherwise -- we all need to ensure the things's funded
but presumably don't see this as profit-making), the main costs are
staff related -- processing requests, giving advice etc. I can see this
as justifying a one-off fee for allocation, but there doesn't seem to
be a reason for a maintenance charge. (And what do you do if a customer
doesn't pay this? Reassign the number(s), with the knowledge that they're
probably still being used?)

Setting a "recommended" price is fine -- it's a sort of price
regulation. But this would have to be high enough to cover the staff
costs of those countries where salaries etc are relatively high --
generally north-west Europe.  I still think there will be deviations,
as some registries will find alternative funding, some will just do
their own thing. As long as we don't have some silly idea of trying to
enforce a uniform charge, I don't think it matters -- things will shake
down, as the majority of companies will be more interested in applying
to their local registry (easier to do, same language, etc) than saving
a few ECUs. The main cause of people going to a non-local registry
would surely be if the local one wasn't giving a good service, rather
than because of price?

Bob Day