Address space for individuals

On Mon, 23 May 94 14:11:24 BST  bob at informatics.rutherford.ac.uk wrote:
> For information, I'd reckon that processing a "simple" request, billing etc
> would cost around 250 ECU. A more complex one, where there's a need to
> discuss the situation in detail with the applicant might cost 500 ECU,
> maybe more. With these sort of figures it'd probably be worth insisting
> on having the registration fee come with the application, rather than
> billing afterwards -- this should cut costs a bit. You'd still have to
> generate a VAT receipt, though.

Here are some techniques we are using. You might find them useful
to lower the workload of the last-resort IR's:
1. Giving advice on how to set up networks is added value for
   Internet Service Providers; I usually turn down those questions
   quite quickly
2. Try to minimise your work, eventually making more work for the
   requestor. Don't build an addressing plan to see if their
   application is valid; ask them to provide one. Don't accept
   if they are providing data their own way forcing you to transform;
   ask them to provide the data the way YOU want it
   (we do some calculations based on machine-[012] and subnet-[012]
   as a first estimation; jokers not providing this information
   see their application returned to them)
   Based on some ideas that came up during the local-ir WG and ideas
   we had earlier (which I forgot to bring up during the meeting - 
   sorry), we probably want to change ripe-107 a little - it times
   out in a month anyway. Anybody else having hot ideas?
3. During last RIPE, I have heard several cry-for-help from some IR's
   who have customers that do not accept the rulings of the IR and
   cost quite a bit of effort convincing. I'm willing to help - 
   these are 'difficult cases' and you pay my salary to do those,
   how much I hate them as well.... ;-)

Personally I don't like the situation that we have to bill for 
IP numbers per se (it opens the way for big-$$$ company to apply for
a B for their 300-host network), but billing for consultancy around 
the registration process seems much more suitable to me. 
Also, what happens if a company pays you 500 or even 1000 ECU,
expecting you to give them a B, but their network does not justify
assigning that much of address space? A case could be made for
'services not delivered' with nasty consequences as well...

Geert Jan