ARIN Proposal

[The Innkeeper]

> I'm responding to two positions here. The proposal drafters, as I
> understand, have put out a fee structure. Michael Bathrick and others are
> saying the fees are too large for them to pay.
>
> To me, there is a problem with both positions.  I do not believe the
> initial proposal should have suggested any actual numbers for fees, but
> instead have discussed the functions to be performed and some estimate of
> the workload  in terms of number and types of work requests (as opposed
to
> the resources needed to service them).
>
> Consensus needs to form as to:
>   1) The need for a registry (I think this is self-evident, but I'll put
>      it down for completeness)

The need for a registry is very self-evident.  The organization of that
registry is something for further discussion.

>   2) The functions that registry will perform, including availability
>      goals for public servers,

Excellent point.  That is something that should be very well pointed out.

>   3) An estimated workload of allocation requests, ASN requests, etc.
>
> Once there is a consensus on these requirements, the means for carrying
> them out can be examined.  There will be a set of fixed costs that must
be
> allocated over the expected number of direct customers (assuming that is
> the only funding source), and there will be some set of variable costs
that
> varies with the workload.
>
> If the services are accepted as needed, and it is agreed that it will
cost
> a certain amount to provide them, then those costs will have to be
> distributed over the current and prospective customer base.  If those
costs
> are excessive for small ISPs, then either there needs to be a community
> consensus that there is a non-economic reason to subsidize them (and
there
> may be), or, sadly, a certain amount of natural selection comes into
play.
> (I'd really like to play NFL quarterback, but I just don't have what it
> takes...let's be honest...defensive back...gets to hit people).
>
> But we now seemed locked in a battle over arbitrary numbers.  How can
that
> go anywhere?  Even if a new proposal changes the numbers, unless there is
a
> derivation of where the numbers came from, I see the flames continuing.
>
I will agree very much with this outlook on some folks possibly being left
out because of costing....But then there are many ISPs who attempt to start
up and just cannot make it because of improper planning or
forecasting...Being able to plug specific figures into budgeting and
forecasts will help the small folks in their initial planning and hopefully
some of our efforts with AOP and the writings we are putting together will
have the ability to work well with what is being proposed in helping all
ISPs out there no matter what size...

Stephan R. May, Sr., Manager, Southeastern Online System Services
                    http://www.sols.net       the_innkeeper at sols.net
Proud member of the Association of Online Professionals Board of Directors
                                        http://www.aop.org