RIPE hostmasters visiting LIRs

Joao Luis Silva Damas wrote:

> Dear all,
>
> I believe this thread never really came to an end.
>
> We have been thinking long about how to address the distance that is
> perceived
> as separating the RIPE NCC registration services from everyday
> operations of ISPs.
>
> We have considered the proposed idea of having RIPE NCC hostmasters
> visiting ISPs to get in touch with their daily operations and needs.
>
> The preceding mails have raised the issues of how to select the LIRs to be
> visited, the finance implications of having the hostmasters travel to
> these ISP locations, the potential danger of lobbying and whether those
> visits should be used as a mechanism for helping ISPs in auditing
> processes.
>
> To these, I would like to add the potential disruptions to
> operations that these visits may have for the Registration Services
> department.
>
> Now, financial issues could definitely be resolved in agreement with the
> membership.
>
> The potential for lobbying is a worrisome prospect, not because I fear
> that
> anyone would actually even think about it, but because should any
> allegations be raised it would be difficult to prove them wrong and in any
> case a certain damage would have been done.
>
> Mainly because of this, I would rather not have RIPE NCC hostmasters visit
> individual members.
>
> However, we do acknowledge the need for hostmasters to be more up to date
> with
> developments in the industry and the fact that it would be very benefitial
> to increase awareness of daily ISP operations within Registration
> Services.
>
> To address this, and some other internal issues, we will be hiring for a
> new position within the RIPE NCC
> with the specific function of providing internal technical advise and
> training that will enable us to better track developments and be more
> familiar with everyday operations.

So although this looks like a change in thought its not really, as this means
one person in the NCC will be more clued up as to practices and needs within
the ISP world and even have a vast experience of many environments, but they
will not be doing and hostmaster work which was the whole point of this
proposal. This proposal was designed to give the experience and feel of
working in a very competitive world and dealing with customers preconceptions
of what the internet is. This proposal goes no further than wasting our money
on a new position within the NCC with no more real gains other than technical
knowledge increase which can be done by reading the ISP/telco trade journals.
What is the difference from a hostmaster being accused of coercion or this
new persons position still the same perceived problem.

The RIPE NCC is their to because the RIPE community wishes it and the RIPE
NCC up hold policy as set out by RIPE and as far as i see it there was a
consensus that this initial proposal was a good idea, but the NCC thought
otherwise who is dictating policy here?


>
>
> This person, will not be routinely involved in the handling of member
> address requests and might be a good candidate to visit a few LIRs
> selected
> randomly from different "pools" (big, small, different economic
> and regulatory environments,...) in the future.
>
> I believe this solution can effectively address the concerns raised by
> this
> discussion while minimizing the drawbacks of the solutions proposed so far
> and also has other benefits for the RIPE NCC.
>
> Hope to hear from you,
> Joao Damas
> Head of external services
> RIPE NCC