I’d like to offer another perspective on this discussion:


First, many members repeatedly raise the idea of leaving RIPE in favor of another RIR. Realistically, this isn’t feasible. A company operating primarily in the Middle East, for example, cannot simply register with ARIN. That path is only available to large international corporations with global incorporation. The vast majority of members must join RIPE - there was no real choice involved.


Regarding voting: last year’s proposal to completely overhaul the charging scheme and abandon the flat fee model received over 900 votes - a significant number, likely representing more than half of actively engaged LIRs. It’s fair to say that many see the current model as deeply unfair.


Last year, we were told that members cannot directly decide on fee levels because they are tied to the activity plan. But then it was clarified that the activity plan itself isn’t directly voted on either. This creates a governance loop that leaves members with little influence. “Start your own RIR” isn’t a viable solution.


Lastly, the legal argument about Dutch law is confusing. RIPE covers a diverse region - from Israel and Lebanon to Russia and Ukraine - all under one umbrella. If the tiered model conflicts with Dutch regulations, could we not consider establishing a subsidiary in a more flexible jurisdiction (e.g., UAE)? That would better reflect the geographic and economic diversity of members.



On 3 Jun 2025, at 23:09, Matthias Brumm <matthias@brumm.net> wrote:

I will stick to the fundamental democratic voting system, to have free, equal and secret voting. Actually one has roughly one and a half days to cast the vote. I do not think that the time frame stops someone from voting.

Matthias

Am 02.06.25 um 23:01 schrieb D. Walde - Walde IT-Systemhaus:
We should start with the elections.

I'm just thinking this out loud.

1. Elections should last 30/31 days (possibly 4 weeks/28 days) or from the 1st of the month to the end of the month.
We have time, or does one of you need to know the results tomorrow? OK.

2. Bonuses for voters, e.g., credits for courses and exams.

3. Or, votes cast should be recorded as an election point, and as long as there are more "no votes" than "votes," the election must be repeated.


Then it might just take a while for elections to take place. A vote below 30% is ridiculous; below 50%, an election should be declared void and restarted.

Best regards / Mit freundlichen Grüßen
Walde IT-Systemhaus - CEO Dirk Walde - IT-Specialist




Daniel Suchy via members-discuss schrieb:
Many LIRs? I thing "few" is better word here. Each member has right to vote in many questions ultimately affects what services are provided.

As a result, we vote ourselves out what RIPE does.

~20% members activelly voted (on last GM). The rest simply don't care, it doesn't bother them. From number of non-voters, it's impossible to infer their interest or disinterest. Not voting is also a way to exercise the right to vote.

But let's not use the false argument that they aren't interested by additional services. There's no evidence for that.

- Daniel


On 6/2/25 10:43 AM, Alexandre wrote:
Many LIR aren't interrested by the additional services provided by the RIPE NCC. Having a fixed membership fees pushes the smallest LIR to either migrate to an other RIR, or to merge with other LIR to reduce exploitation costs.
If the incencitive to make the smallest LIR to close or leave the RIPE NCC continues, that will mean increase of the membership fees for all the remaining LIR. And like that, by the end of the decade, the fees will be with 5 figures, and there will be only big players remaining, effectively owning the RIPE NCC. I'm not sure many orgs will enjoy this situation.

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