Policy and PR problem

> I am just attending a seminar in Broad band networks, and met again the
> claim that
>
> -"it is currently very difficult to get IP address space" and as a result
of
> that we have to plan complex network solutions with a combination of
private
> and public addresses.

This might be true if the words "For those who don't take the trouble
to understand and follow the agreed procedures," were inserted at the start
of the sentence.


>
> This claim is very different from the one I tend to make: "you get the
> addresses you need as long as you can provide documentation that you realy
> need them".

This is my experience and my expectation of RIPE NCC.

>
> personally I think that we have a serious PR problem here: is it so that
the
> rules and regulations have become so strict and complicated that we, the
> lirs, tell our customers that this is very difficult and you should realy
> use private addresses, rather than explaining how the procedures and
> policies realy work ?
>
> Is this what we want ?

You're right, we do need to get the positive message across.  RIPE NCC,
and RIPE representatives such as yourself, Peter, have been doing this
at various levels, and I think the effort is increasing.  Perhaps we
need to direct some attention to the more popular media, to explain
the importance, the function and the challenges of address registration
in the European Internet.

Regards.

Mike