Sorry for the completely off topic rant here, but maybe it will garner some attention from the ARIN folks.
So I am attempting a small startup business and and initially building out three sites and thought it would be good to register and upfront get my own IPv6 space instead of leasing from some other party or have to renumber as future things change
Looking at the ARIN website and fee schedule, I see there is a blurb at the bottom of the RSP Categories and Fees about IPv6 fees being waived until December 31, 2026. My reaction was along the lines of this is great, it helps small companies and startups get IPv6 deployed and up and running in their environment.
So I put in the request for a /44 initial request and provided all my justifications and within a couple of days I got word that my request was approved. WonderfulâŚ
Then I proceed to get a $250 invoice for my /44 under a 3X-Small category! Huh??
So I call in and am told the waiver is only for those in a 2X-Service Category who want to obtain a 3X-Small Category subnet and that it really isnât a fee waiver, but that the 2X-Small Category organization will only be charged a 3X-Small fee of $250 and that the $500 fee.
So ARIN, either quit the bait and switch, or fix the wording in the Fee Schedule AND provide a link to the full text of the waiver. As the blurb in the schedule mentions nothing about the 2X-Small Category and honestly, no fees are really waived.
Again, apologies for the rant, but just needed to get it out there, the frustration of a small start up business ownerâŚ
*There is a temporary IPv6 fee waiver for organizations in the 3X-Small service category. A 3X-Small organization may receive registry services for up to a /36 of total IPv6 space and remain in the 3X-Small service category. This waiver will expire 31 December 2026.
I think you misread the ARIN fee waiver guideline, they basically state that you can get up to a /36 of IPv6 space, 2x-Small, while paying for 3X-Small pricing.
For all of you who have historical knowledge of how ARIN has/does operate, throw that out the window and look at it from a newcomer point of view and the wording being taken at face value.
"There is a temporary IPv6 fee waiver for organizations in the 3X-Small service category. A 3X-Small organization may receive registry services for up to a /36 of total IPv6 space and remain in the 3X-Small service category. This waiver will expire 31 December 2026."
The "fee waiver" is that they're allowing a 3x-small org to grow into a 2x-small org's worth of v6 space while staying at the 3x-small org annual fee.
Presumably, you could request a /40, and then request another (and another...), and as long as you have a /36 or less worth of v6 space, you'll still only owe $250/year for the IPv6 space until this "deal" expires at the end of 2026.
The issue being a newcomer and not fully versed on the levels, I never made the connection of the /36 to the 2X-Small Category. A simple addition of adding in a reference to that category would make it a lot more clearâŚ
Something as simple as changing to the below, would have more easily triggered that connection.
*There is a temporary IPv6 fee waiver for organizations in the 3X-Small service category. A 3X-Small organization may receive registry services for up to a /36 of total IPv6 space and remain in the 3X-Small service category and not be charged at the 2X-Small fee schedule. This waiver will expire 31 December 2026.
I can see how someone not in the know -- like myself -- could mistake this the way that Robert did. I can also see how it might be taken differently by those in the know.
"There is a temporary IPv6 fee waiver for organizations in the 3X-Small service category."
I can see that as both "(new) organizations (that aren't currently registered) that are the size of a 3X-Small..." and "(existing 3X-Small) organizations that are (already registered and) the size of a 3X-Small..."
It seems somewhat unclear to me if it applies to new registrants or if it's a perk for existing registrants to grow.
The issue being a newcomer and not fully versed on the levels, I never made the connection of the /36 to the 2X-Small Category. A simple addition of adding in a reference to that category would make it a lot more clearâŚ
The service levels are defined right there in the chart above the wording on the fee waiver. What do you mean you âwerenât fully versedâ on the levels? They are right there!
Looking at the ARIN website and fee schedule, I see there is a blurb at the bottom of the RSP Categories and Fees about IPv6 fees being waived until December 31, 2026. My reaction was along the lines of this is great, it helps small companies and startups get IPv6 deployed and up and running in their environment.
There is no possible way that anyone should interpret the current wording of the asteriskâd text as ALL IPv6 fees are waived until 2026. None. If thatâs your take away, Iâm not sure what to say.
As the blurb in the schedule mentions nothing about the 2X-Small Category and honestly, no fees are really waived.
Iâm 100% with John here. You didnât read it. The chart shows you what a 2X-Small category is. Very straight forward.
Feedback that the text could be slightly more descriptive is perfectly legitimate. Accusing ARIN of âbait and switchâ because you didnât RTFM is not.
This screams of entitlement. If you canât afford $250 a year for ARIN, you probably shouldnât be starting a new business. Sorry
#define SOAPBOX
Darin,
Please remember ARIN covers more than just the relatively prosperous United States.
There are places like Jamaica, which are also in the ARIN region, where the average
annual income is $2,337.
Having to put aside 11% of your annual income for ARIN registry fees to start a business
is a big decision.
I donât think youâd like it if we called you âentitledâ for not wanting to shell out 11% of your
annual income for ARIN fees to start a business.
While NANOG by name does narrow the focus to just âNorth Americaâ, we should all remember
that even in North America, wealth is not distributed equally. There are communities that very
much need the economic development that new businesses can bring, where a $250/year annual
fee represents a significant headwind. Rather than pooh-pooh their concerns, we should instead
strive to see the world through that entrepreneurâs eyes, and address their concerns, rather than
brush them aside.
Please remember ARIN covers more than just the relatively prosperous
United States. There are places like Jamaica, which are also in the
ARIN region, where the average annual income is $2,337.
indeed
i find this thread to be depressing. the economics you mention, of
course.
but also folk being rude, judgemental, and blaming the user for being
confused by the complex and jargon-infested bureaucrazy we have created
in the rirs.
and yes, props to the rirs for trying to document rules and processes.
but that often seems to create even more documents. and, of course, if
you have to deal with multiple rirs, expect no parallelism, similar
nomenclature, etc.
it is very easy for a new rir user to get confused by corner cases,
terminology, quirks of history, and the detritus of our amateur policy
wonkage.
give 'em a break. and see if we can round off the rough edges where
they got caught.
*There is a temporary IPv6 fee waiver for organizations in the 3X-Small service category allowing for more IPv6 resources than normal while still remaining in the 3X-Small service category and paying only the 3X-Small service category fee. A 3X-Small organization may receive registry services for up to a /36 of total IPv6 space and remain in the 3X-Small service category rather than being charged the 2X-Small service category fee. This waiver will expire 31 December 2026.
The terminology âfee waiverâ is acknowledged as less than ideal, but has been retained forconsistency as thereâs extensive historical references to it in this manner â it is hoped that
the more extensive explanation will suffice to clarify any confusion in how it is actually handled.
Thanks,
/John
John Curran
President and CEO
American Registry for Internet Numbers
