ripe-45


                         Call for Participation

                           A New RIPE Group:

          Relations Between the Research and Academic Networks
                       and the Commercial Networks


                              Glenn Kowack
                              glenn@eu.net


        European networking is divided between two broad  classes
        of   networks:   the  government-supported  academic  and
        research networks and the commercial networks.   Each  of
        these  types  of  networks have distinct and occasionally
        conflicting goals, operational standards, and policies.

        In the past, little coordination between  these  networks
        has  been  necessary  due  to  the limited interaction of
        these two groups.  However, the recent growth of IP  net-
        working and the arrival of many new commercial networking
        organizations have started to bring  these  two  type  of
        networks together frequently.

        RIPE is forming a group to provide a forum for discussion
        of  relations  between  the Academic and Research Netorks
        and the Commercial Networks. It will be a continuing goal
        of  the  group  to identify, discuss, and recommend solu-
        tions to problems when they are small and  have  not  yet
        inhibited network growth or technical progress.

        Policies for possible discussion include:

                Internetwork  Efficiency
                Routing
                Operational Coordination
                Economics and Cost-Sharing
                Acceptable Use

        The first meeting of this group will take  place  at  the
        20-22  January RIPE meeting in Amsterdam. At that time we
        suggest that the group begin three activities:

        First, to draft a preliminary mission statement for  this
        group.   We recommend that this mission statement be com-
        pleted at the following RIPE meeting.

        Second, to begin a list of discussion areas and an action
        plan.   We recommend that this list and plan be completed
        at the summer RIPE meeting.

        Third, to review the activity of other groups and persons
        which  can  be used as input to this group, and to deter-
        mine which groups and persons should be informed of  this
        group's activities.

        All interested persons and networking  organizations  are
        invited to participate.