Charging Scheme 2024 Consultation

This page provides the basis for a consultation with the RIPE NCC membership on the RIPE NCC Charging Scheme model that will be used in 2024, and we would like to carry out that consultation well in advance of the RIPE NCC General Meeting (GM) May 2023.

Background 

One of the main reasons that we would like to consult with members on the charging model is that we expect many members with multiple LIR accounts who received resources in 2021 to merge these accounts in the coming year. This means that the income the RIPE NCC receives will be reduced by a significant amount and we will need to ensure that our charging model allows us to collect the revenue required to maintain our operations. We believe that a category-based model would be best suited to cover this consolidation risk. Continuing with the existing model would mean that an increase in fees for all members would be required. Our ultimate goal is to arrive at a charging scheme model that will be sustainable for many years to come, meeting the needs of the RIPE NCC’s members.

Draft RIPE NCC Charging Schemes 2024

At this stage of the consultation process, the Executive Board proposes three Draft RIPE NCC Charging Schemes that are available for members to review and give input on. These models are based on input we received in March on the Members Discuss mailing list and at the Charging Scheme Open House, as well as on input from the Executive Board at its meeting on 23-24 March. 

The final charging schemes to be voted on by members at the RIPE NCC General Meeting will be published on 26 April 2023. We ask members to discuss the charging schemes and provide input by 19 April using these three draft models as the basis for discussion:

Model A - Category Model (Includes Member Spread across Categories)

Model B - Price Increase and ASN fee

Model C - Transfer Fee and ASN fee

The three models all aim to fulfil a budget that is roughly the same as 2023 plus general cost increases including inflation, so EUR 42-45 million. By doing this, we can ensure that we can meet the potential budgetary requirements for 2024 while retaining the option for members to redistribute any excess contributions should we receive excess funds.

Model A - Category Model

This model has ten categories to provide greater granularity. It also charges separately for independent and legacy resources in exactly the same way as in previous years. Additionally, a separate 50 EUR ASN assignment fee has been added. Both separately charged resources do not contribute to the category scores. This means there is no double charging and no specific charging for transfers or administrative work carried out by the RIPE NCC. There is a New /24 IPv4 administration fee to ensure there is a financial consequence to joining the IPv4 Waiting List. The fee would be payable upon receipt of the /24, and members joining the waiting list who do not have an eligible LIR account, would pay the new LIR sign-up fee to open a new LIR account and join the waiting list. 

With this model, approximately 68% of members would pay less than the current annual fee, with the remaining 32% paying more.

The discussion with members helped us to see that a category-based model would receive significant support from members if the version was simplified. Should members see the need to charge for other elements, then that can be incorporated into the category model in the coming years. Any such additional charges could potentially then reduce the fees per category.

Model B - Price increase and ASN fee

This model is the exact same as in the previous ten years, but there is a price increase of EUR 150 and the additional ASN assignment fee to ensure we can meet our budgetary requirements while retaining the option for members to redistribute any excess contribution should we receive excess funds.

Model C - Transfer fee and ASN fee

This model is the exact same as in the previous ten years, but there is an additional charge for ASN assignments and a charge of EUR 1,000 per transfer to be paid by the receiving party to ensure we can meet our budgetary requirements while retaining the option for members to redistribute any excess contribution should we receive excess funds.

Updated Charging Scheme Calculator 

In order to allow members to form an opinion based on their own situation, we are providing an updated Excel sheet that will allow you to calculate the fees you would pay under each of the draft models.

Download Updated Charging Scheme Calculator 

Note: If the formulas do not calculate automatically, you may need to enable automatic calculations in Excel. You can do this by:
Windows: File - Options - Formulas - Workbook Calculations - Automatic
Mac: Preferences - Calculations - Calculations options - Automatic 

Archived Material

The information we provided in March 2023, before the publication of the three draft charging scheme models, is provided below. It is important to be aware that this information is superseded by the information provided above.

To help with discussion and to provide something tangible for members to assess, we initially provided two draft models for members to review. These models could an be summarised as:

• A “one-LIR, one-fee” model based on the current RIPE NCC Charging Scheme 2023  that also charges for independent resources, ASNs, transfers and changes in business structure such as M&As.
• A category-based model that charges per member (not per LIR account) and is based on resources registered and that also charges for independent resources, ASNs, transfers and changes in business structure such as M&As.

This charging scheme calculator was provided to members so they could calculate fees they might pay under the initially-proposed models. Please note that this calculator is superseded by the one provided above.

Old Charging Scheme Calculator

The two images below provided supporting information that members requested to inform their thinking around the charging scheme model discussion:

Distribution of Total Allocated IPv4 per LIR

Member Spread Across Categories in Model 2 (this is now included in the Model A - Category Model document)

Further Engagement

We ask that you provide your input on this important consultation on the Membership Discussion mailing list (members-discuss at ripe.net) by 19 April. Input provided up to this date will be considered by the Board when formulating the charging schemes to be proposed for the GM. Input after this date is of course also welcome although it might not be reflected in the schemes put forward to the membership at the GM.

Summary

7 March: Start consultation with membership on RIPE NCC Charging Scheme model

21 March: Open House to discuss charging scheme with membership

24 March: Executive Board meeting to discuss input received so far

12 April: Publication of Draft RIPE NCC Charging Schemes 2024

26 April: Publication of Final RIPE NCC Charging Schemes to be voted on by members

24 May: RIPE NCC General Meeting May 2023