Yes, however, if we are on the outside looking at reducing costs, I do not think it is terribly unfair to go and ask questions like what will one get for the amount spent on a line item, don't you agree? As for ISOC, the other RIRs seem to be in silver, bronze and copper categories which, I am guessing, have a lower cost than the highest category. Similarly, if ICANN had total revenue of 163 million dollars in 2022, mostly consisting of registry and registrar revenue (gTLDs), they really do not need any voluntary financial support from someone else who could use that money better themselves (or not spend it at all). Unless of course we are wrong, and it is some kind of pay to play fee. Then one should be entitled to ask what one receives. 🙂 Kaj ________________________________ From: Michele Neylon - Blacknight <michele@blacknight.com> Sent: Thursday, November 2, 2023 19:14 To: Kaj Niemi <kajtzu@basen.net>; Erik Bais <ebais@a2b-internet.com>; Hans Petter Holen <hph+announce@ripe.net> Cc: members-discuss@ripe.net <members-discuss@ripe.net> Subject: Re: Questions about the published Draft Agenda and Supporting Documents You don't often get email from michele@blacknight.com. Learn why this is important<https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentification> Kaj ICANN and ISOC as well as some other organisations should be supported by RIPE. They might not be “perfect” but they are a large part of the reason why we are able to continue doing what we do without more regulation. At a technical level ICANN and IANA coordinate the allocation and management of names and numbers ie. IP addresses. The RIRs are not “obliged” to financially support ICANN (it’s NOT sponsorship), but they do so because they believe in the system (warts and all). The multistakeholder model of internet governance which we all benefit from is not perfect, but as long as it works and is supported then we hopefully won’t be regulated out of existence. Regards Michele -- Mr Michele Neylon Blacknight Solutions Hosting, Colocation & Domains https://www.blacknight.com/ https://blacknight.blog/ Intl. +353 (0) 59 9183072 Direct Dial: +353 (0)59 9183090 Personal blog: https://michele.blog/ Some thoughts: https://ceo.hosting/ ------------------------------- Blacknight Internet Solutions Ltd, Unit 12A,Barrowside Business Park,Sleaty Road,Graiguecullen,Carlow,R93 X265,Ireland Company No.: 370845 I have sent this email at a time that is convenient for me. I do not expect you to respond to it outside of your usual working hours.