[ripe-list] RIPE Accountability Task Force Update at RIPE 75

Dear Nigel!

Thank you for the answers (in both capacities).

Because we are in "RIPE Accountability" thread i do not think, that such answers are sufficient.
Yes, it's very unusual combination of Dutch nonprofit, community, some international relations, shared resources etc.
I feel you feel skeptical about Accountability Task Force, but unfortunately we need to write down and state openly some things, which are considered "well known" to Internet pioneers.

On 2017-10-19 12:17:43 CET, Nigel Titley wrote:
> > Did i get right, that "RIPE NCC is secretariat for community" is a fairy tale, told to RIPE Meetings newcomers?
> No, RIPE NCC is a membership association which carries out Network 
> coordination activities on behalf of its membership and generally 
> governed by policies formulated by the RIPE community.
"No it's not fairy tale" or "No, it's not being told"? :)
https://ripe74.ripe.net/wp-content/uploads/presentations/24-Newcomers-Intro_Axel_RIPE74.pdf
Slide #3 

> > And relations of RIPE NCC to RIPE Community are just 4 letters E I P R in the name?
> In practice no, as, except in extremely strange circumstances, the RIPE 
> NCC conducts activities according to policies formulated by the  RIPE 
> community.
Yes, NCC is not simple association. Accountability of NCC and Community towards each other is a difficult question. 

> > And Number Resources allocation in this region happens not on behalf of Community, but because of some kind of MoUs signed by Dutch association with American corporation owned by other American corporation?
> Completely incorrect.
What is correct? What is the role of RIPE Community in the correct answer (and why)?

> > And all those are official statements of the RIPE NCC Executive Board?
> No they are statements made by me, wearing my Chairman hat. I'm happy to 
> take off the hat and make the statements as Nigel Titley, Internet 
> person at large, if it makes you happier.
> 
> What Jim and I were both trying to say, and obviously something got lost 
> in translation, is that ever since the PDP's inception the NCC has 
> carried out the policies as formulated by the RIPE Community, without 
> exception, even when this has cost the RIPE NCC  membership considerable 
> amounts of money. However, because we are bound by fiduciary duty (ie we 
> mustn't do anything that's illegal under Dutch law) we *cannot* agree to 
> do absolutely *anything* that might come out of the policy process. To 
> take a ludicrous example, suppose the community asked us to sign an MOU 
> with a Colombian drug cartel, something which under the PDP they could 
> actually ask us to do, we would decline courteously.
This is accountability question.
Our task force trying to find approach to such difficult questions. 
And we hope for your help.
"RIPE Chair does what it does" is funny, but not acceptable (for broader audience) answer.

Hope for very constructive dialog after Accountability TF presentation.

Alexander

P. S. Btw, about ludicrous example. You (NCC) already signed MoU with Russian Telco Ministry not asking anyone. With Russian citizen hat on, i think any MoU with Columbian drug cartel will make lesser damage.

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