Web version:
https://web.karrenberg.net/krakowappeal.html
# Three Appeals
I have observed the recent discussions in the community and the RIPE NCC
membership. Here are three personal appeals for these discussion as we meet in
Krakow and on the Net.
## === Modern Version ===
### 1. Be Proud of RIPE
Let us be proud! Together we have built a strong community and an exemplary way
of self governance. Let us cherish what we have and develop it further by
consensus.
### 2. For a Strong RIPE NCC
Let us support the RIPE NCC. A strong RIPE NCC is more than just a registry:
it is a neutral place where the community does things together. Let us avoid
weakening it by exaggerating its shortcomings but rather evolve it in
deliberate steps by consensus. A strong RIPE NCC benefits everyone.
### 3. No Fake Solutions
Let us not fall for divisive rhetoric and seemingly easy and convenient
solutions. Most everyone wants to pay less for the same benefit. More often
than not, after deciding to pay less one discovers that the benefit is not
quite the same. Let us not focus on the cost first but constructively build
consensus to evolve the RIPE NCC in the direction we want and only then decide
how we split the costs.
## === Classic Version ===
## Who is talking?
For those who do not know me well, here is my background so you know where I
come from when I speak up: My name is [Daniel
Karrenberg](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Karrenberg). I have been
involved with RIPE and the RIPE NCC from the very beginning. I have [helped to
create RIPE in
1989](https://www.ripe.net/membership/meetings/ripe-meetings/ripe-1/) while I
was busy bringing the Internet to the region. I helped to create the [proposal
for a RIPE NCC](https://www.ripe.net/publications/docs/ripe-019/). In 1992 I
took responsibility for [implementing that
proposal](https://labs.ripe.net/author/dfk/25-years-of-the-ripe-ncc-the-first-hours/)
and became the first employee of the RIPE NCC and its first CEO. I helped to
create [the initial versions of many RIPE NCC
services](https://www.ripe.net/publications/docs/ripe-062/) including the first
two versions of the RIPE Database software. During the first year of the RIPE
NCC the first Internet boom hit and the RIPE NCC needed to meet entirely
unforeseen demands. I resisted the temptations of the boom and decided to stick
with the NCC during this challenging time.
At the start of this century I stepped down as CEO and went on to help build
new RIPE NCC sevices, such as [RIPE
RIS](https://www.ripe.net/analyse/internet-measurements/routing-information-service-ris/),
[RIPE Atlas](https://atlas.ripe.net/) and [RIPEStat](https://stat.ripe.net/).
During the following decade I stepped back from operational resposibilities and
became an advisor to the RIPE NCC CEO; I still advise him on a part-time basis
which makes me the [longest serving RIPE NCC
employee](https://www.ripe.net/media/documents/Daniel_Karrenberg_30_Years_at_the_RIPE_NCC.pdf).
Recently I have helped to build consensus about RIPE self governance by
authoring documents describing [the role of the RIPE
Chair](https://www.ripe.net/publications/docs/ripe-714/) and [the RIPE Chair
selection process](https://www.ripe.net/publications/docs/ripe-787/). I have
subsequently led the first round of that process as chair of the [2020 RIPE
Nominating Committee](https://www.ripe.net/publications/docs/ripe-762/).
Currently, on request of the RIPE Chair, I am drafting a document on the
community consensus about the current state of the relationship between RIPE
and the RIPE NCC. I am also looking forward to advise the next RIPE Nominating
Committee in my role as the *previous chair*.
So far my history with this community. This should let you draw your own
colclusions about my biases and the merit of what I have to say. Now for the
longer version of my appeals:
## 1. Be Proud of RIPE
Let us be proud! Together we have built a strong community and an exemplary way
of self governance. Let us cherish what we have and develop it further by
consensus.
We are currently facing many challenges such as
- renewing our community and bringing in young people,
- improving our leadership, f.i. working group chairs,
- operating in a climate of raising geopolitical tensions and sanctions,
- IPv4 addresses becoming a commodity,
- defending against attacks on the RIR system such as the one on AFRINIC,
- evolving the relationship between RIPE and RIPE NCC - BoF in Krakow on
Tuesday evening -,
- . . .
At the same time the climate of public discourse in general has become more
hostile and divisive. Whole countries are facing a divided population,
sometimes close to 50/50. People concentrate more on what divides them rather
than on what unites them. Ironically some believe that our very Internet has
been a major instrument for this to happen.
We should not follow this trend! I fear that significant divisions in our
community and a hostile discourse will damage our standing and our credibility
as a self governing community.
We should be proud of the unique community we have built and the exemplary self
governance we have created, especially in the area of Internet Number Resources
or as we like to call it *Address Policy* and the *RIPE Registry*. Our
community has been leading the world in this and we should be proud of it and
build on that success. I do not mean to say that we do not need to evolve. To
the contrary! We should do this in our successful tradition of constructive
discourse leading to rough consensus.
## 2. For a Strong RIPE NCC
Let us support the RIPE NCC. A strong RIPE NCC is more than just a registry:
it is a neutral place where the community does things together. Let us avoid
weakening it by exaggerating its shortcomings but rather evolve it in
deliberate steps by consensus. A strong RIPE NCC benefits everyone.
Some argue that the RIPE NCC should be reduced to *just the registry* or that
they do not benefit from *all the extra activities*. This is a dangerous view
to take. The RIPE NCC is strong and stable just because it is more than a
registry. The RIPE NCC was established from the start as a neutral and
trustworthy place where the community organises common activities while being
fiercely competitive elsewhere. Such a place is worth preserving all by its
own. The RIPE NCC is uniquely placed for some of these activities such as
neutral Internet measurements and promoting our self governance. It is stronger
and less prone to hostile takeovers than just a bookkeeping function.
I do not propose that everything the RIPE NCC does should be done forever,
including the activities I helped to create. The RIPE NCC does what the
community and the membership want. We have always reviewed and updated the RIPE
NCC Activity Plan.
I fear that weakening the RIPE NCC may destroy the unique resource that we
have created and, once weakened, it will be difficult or even impossible to
re-build its strength when we need it. We all benefit from a strong and well
recognised RIPE NCC whether we individually benefit from all its activities or
not.
## 3. No Fake Solutions
Let us not fall for divisive rhetoric and seemingly easy and convenient
solutions. Most everyone wants to pay less for the same benefit. More often
than not, after deciding to pay less one discovers that the benefit is not
quite the same. Let us not focus on the cost first but constructively build
consensus to evolve the RIPE NCC in the direction we want and only then decide
how we split the costs.
Of course the RIPE NCC and its activities need to evolve with the changing
environment and the changing needs of both the membership and the RIPE
community at large. Starting this process by proposing to reduce the costs for
individual members however is the completely wrong way around. We should first
achieve consensus on what we want from the RIPE NCC and then talk about how we
split the cost.
Our governance is designed such that RIPE and the RIPE NCC association
cooperate. In short it works like this:
- RIPE provides guidance to the RIPE NCC,
- the RIPE NCC board elected by the paying membership decides on the
activities, and
- hires the management to get them done.
- The management proposes a budget, and
- the board decides the budget.
- The board proposes a charging scheme to divide the cost, and
- the membership votes on that.
Evolving the RIPE NCC starts with the RIPE community and with the RIPE NCC
membership. We give guidance to the board. The membership elects that board. So
we should provide this guidance and elect those people. We should be prudent in
this and avoid falling for divisive polemics and seemingly easy solutions. If
we screw this up we may very well lose what we have built up over a long time
with considerable effort.
Let us continue our tradition of constructive discussions leading to rough
consensus and the selection of good people. We have shown that we can do that
and we will continue to be successful and, importantly, continue to have some
fun together.--
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