Re: Registration open for IETF 108

[Mary B <[e-mail]>]

On Wed, Jun 10, 2020 at 9:02 AM Livingood, Jason <
[e-mail]> wrote:

> > This drives home, in quantitative terms, a message that others
>     have been trying to deliver: If we have people from developing
>     countries who have been participating remotely for some time,
>     the effect of these registration fees (at least without the
>     waiver lottery) is to exclude their participation and reduce the
>     IETF's diversity -- and likely the quality of the standards
>     process and the international credibility of our work -- from
>     both demographic and perspective standpoints.
>
> I believe this is one of the reasons that the waiver program was created
> and encourage anyone in this situation or the others articulated in the
> past few days to apply for a waiver.
>
[MB] So, the waiver is a good thing. But, there is a limit on the number
and names are chosen randomly as I understand it.  I would think a better
approach would be to ensure that those that are in countries where this is
a month's wage not be in a random pool.  There are a number of folks that
are self-sponsored so the fee is totally out of pocket and not covered by
their company, in which case it's the tedious aspect of filling out an
expense report versus funds that could be otherwise used by the individual
for other business expenses.   I'm in that latter pool and will not apply
for a waiver so that folks that come from countries like that are more
likely to get the waiver.  So, I really think it should be truly need based
(or at least half the pool in that category).  It is worded somewhat
that way on the registration form, but the email announcement wasn't as
specific.   I know you have some demographics from surveys but I'm guessing
probably not enough to really know how many remote attendees might end up
in that pool. [/MB]

>
> FWIW, there is an IETF LLC board meeting later this week (feel free to
> attend). I have asked for an update at that time during the public part on
> the number of IETF-108 registrations as well as the number of waiver
> applications.
>
> Jason (with my LLC hat on, but not an official board statement)
>
>
>