[lir-wg] Re: 50% increase in RIPE fees ? Since when ?

[Some personal perspectives from an old hand]

The RIPE NCC is not a normal company, for better or worse!

The RIPE NCC does not make a profit.

The agreed model for RIPE NCC funding is to divide the costs 
by the number of members, with  size categories added for fairness. 

In times of peak demand the RIPE NCC still has to deliver; 
it cannot just decide not to grow, produce less services than demanded, 
and then choose the customers that get services and those that do not.

The RIPE NCC cannot build huge reserves in order not to endanger 
its tax exempt status. 

All this has led to steadily decreasing membership fees over the years.
Nobody has been complaining.

Now the number of members to divide the costs is smaller than planned.
Fees are increased according to the funding model. 
Everything is working as expected. 
And, as expected, some people complain.

Fees are back to about the 1999 levels. 
Absolutely speaking they are still very very low 
compared to other expenses of most members.
Think what an unstable RIPE NCC would cost you in real terms,
or what a government operated NCC would cost 
if you want a real nightmare.

Respectfully but slightly irritatedly yours

Daniel