Dear Colleagues, The RIPE NCC service region is very diverse and includes a wide variety of regions, languages and economies. The RIPE NCC Executive Board makes every endeavour to position the RIPE NCC so that it can deliver the highest level of service to the more than 8,000 members across its service region. We are elected by those members to represent their interests and to ensure that the organisation performs activities that meet their needs. Over the last year, the Executive Board has thoroughly examined the activities performed by the RIPE NCC. In particular, we have focused on analysing these activities in relation to the detailed feedback we have received from the membership and in light of changing conditions affecting the Internet industry. We have also made a sustained effort to develop alternative charging models through which the activities performed on behalf of the membership are covered by the annual service fees paid by the members. During this process, we have tried to incorporate the feedback that we have received from you. In addition to following the discussions taking place on the members’ mailing list and at RIPE Meetings, we commissioned an independent survey that generated valuable feedback. We also made sure to respond to comments and criticisms we received at recent RIPE NCC General Meetings. The results of these efforts are the Draft RIPE NCC Activity Plan and Budget 2013 and the proposals for the RIPE NCC Charging Scheme 2013. DRAFT ACTIVITY PLAN AND BUDGET 2013 As a result of your feedback about the previous Draft Activity Plan and Budget, we have provided a simpler format with a much clearer connection between the proposed activities and corresponding budget figures. We hope this will provide you with a quicker and more transparent way to assess the activities performed by the RIPE NCC on your behalf. We would like to point out some of the key strategic areas in the Draft Activity Plan and Budget 2013: - The Registry: There is a sharp focus on maintaining and developing the registry to ensure it remains robust and that the data it contains is accurate. Resource Certification (RPKI) is continuing to be developed with an emphasis on ensuring operator autonomy. - Services: Effort has been put into developing RIPEstat, a service that provides RIPE NCC members with information about the history and current state of any IP number resource. We are also proposing to put significant efforts into RIPE Atlas, a unique tool that enables users to measure how packets actually travel around the Internet. - Coordination Activities: In recent years, the RIPE NCC has taken an increasingly active role in reaching out to governments, regulators and other public bodies, such as law enforcement. This is vital for the RIPE NCC membership and the RIPE community as it enables the RIPE NCC to influence a range of public and intergovernmental bodies and to promote the success of the self-regulatory model of the Internet. It is difficult to over emphasise the importance of this work if we wish the Internet to continue in the form in which we know it. CHARGING SCHEME 2013 PROPOSALS The Executive Board is proposing three charging scheme options for RIPE NCC members to consider, discuss and vote on at the General Meeting. The options can be summarised as follows: Option A – Under this option, there are no categories and every LIR pays the same fee Option B – Based on the model presented to the membership in July 2012, which includes self-determination of billing categories for 2014 Option C – Based on the current Charging Scheme model with modifications to the billing score algorithm to include IPv6 and remove the separate charge for AS Numbers The three options are presented to the membership in order to address the wide range of ideas and concerns raised by the membership in recent discussion of the Charging Scheme model. The RIPE NCC Executive Board is eager to give members the opportunity to vote for the Charging Scheme model they prefer. The Executive Board presented a draft model to the membership in July 2012, and we firmly believe that this is the model (Option B) that most fully incorporates the recommendations of the Charging Scheme Task Force and is best placed to provide stability for both the RIPE NCC and its members in the years to come. The Draft Activity Plan and Budget 2013 and the proposed charging scheme options are available at: http://www.ripe.net/lir-services/ncc/gm/september-2012/documents We encourage you to read these documents in advance of the General Meeting and to post any feedback you have on the mailing list for RIPE NCC members (members-discuss@ripe.net). If you wish to contact the Executive Board directly, you are also welcome to email us at: exec-board@ripe.net Best regards Nigel Titley Executive Board Chairman