I believe that the pie chart of IETF financing was shown at the London IETF (which I missed), but the facts are simple enough: the meetings are subsidised by industrial sponsors, and the IETF secretariat is funded out of the resulting surplus from the meeting fees. In addition, the Internet Society funds the RFC Editor out of money provided by its organizational (i.e. mainly industrial) members. If the meeting fee was substantially reduced, this whole financial support system would collapse overnight. Brian Marshall Rose wrote: > > > This is something I have discussed with several people > > and every one seems to agree. > > > > The current registration fee of $575 is outrageously > > high. Even though IETF claims to be an open forum with > > no membership fee - you need $575*3=$1725 per year for > > registration fee alone for attending IETF sessions. > > This is effectively the membership fee for IETF. Sorry > > - not everyone can plan ten days in advance to get > > $125 reduction in fee. Just try to run a small > > consulting business or work for a 20 person start up - > > you would know what I mean. > > ... > > bonney - setting aside, for now, the unstated assumption of your message that meetings are where the real work gets done, perhaps a starting point would be to start by asking what the money gets spent on. maybe 575 is high, maybe it is low, maybe it is just right. > > looking at a balance sheet would provide a basis for a reasoned discussion as to whether the fees are reasonable, outrageous, or a bargain... > > /mtr