[members-discuss] Discuss Charging Scheme 2010

At 12:57 PM 19-06-09 +0100, Andy Davidson wrote:

>On 19 Jun 2009, at 10:46, Thomas Mangin wrote:
>
>>RIPE policies are proposed and voted by the membership, it can not
>>get any more democratic than that !
>>If you do not like them: VOTE - you do not have to be at the meeting
>>to send a proxy, and I do not say this as I am in favor of charing
>>for PI space (I am neutral on the point) - I say it as it is how
>>working members organisation stay alive.
>
>Hi,
>
>A point of order if I may.
>
>RIPE policies are NOT decided by a vote, but by a general consensus at
>meetings AND on the RIPE working group mailing lists.  The mailing
>lists are open to all.  Some will benefit from increased participation
>from genuinely interested sections of the community. ;-)

I am on the address-policy mailing list but it was made very clear to me on 
that list last year:
"...the address policy WG does not have the power to actually decide on the 
final charging scheme.  We give input to the AGM (= annual general meeting 
of all NCC members), and the AGM  decides on the final charging scheme to 
be implemented."

I have no problem with cleaning up records and doing whatever is 
necessary.  But the "policy" process is *totally* disconnected from the 
charging scheme - which is *only* discussed at the AGM and to quote Nick 
Hilliard "The final decision to put this into the charging scheme was made 
at the General Meeting in Dubai, but it was talked about at a couple of 
others."

And when I pressed onward with:
 > Maybe I missed the discussion in regards to 2007-01 where it was stated
 > that the charging algorithm would change.

The answer I got was "Yes, you missed the discussion.  It took place at 
RIPE meetings, not on the mailing list, and for the reasons you specify: 
billing is outside the scope of apwg."

So stating that the mailing lists are where we should go to discuss these 
issues is totally false.  This issue of charging was covered TOTALLY 
outside the context of any mailing list.

-Hank


>You can read more about the process here http://www.ripe.net/ripe/policies/
>
>Kind wishes,
>Andy