Dan Cross wrote:
I see. So just to clarify, you are saying that it is ARDC's official
position that emcomm is not an appropriate use of the 44net address
space?
ARDC has not created an official policy with respect to use of 44net
address space for emergency communications, either for or against. But
let's take a few sanity checks here:
1. ARDC's offices are closed until 3 January, and any discussion here is
separate from 'official' pronouncements. Official positions will be
documented on ARDC's official website(s).
2. Nobody has been granted a service level agreement (SLA) for 44net
address space. In part, because the network is not provisioned by ARDC
(e.g. ARDC is not building the physical network, which is largely
constructed by individuals and groups.) Unless an entity (ARDC) is
provisioning the physical network from end to end (to end) it is impossible
to provide a SLA. ARDC manages the allocation of address space, and users
implement the network.
3. ARDC recently took a survey concerning 44net, which will be published
after the first of the year. One of the topics was the level of service
people expect, from purely experimental to mission critical, and the report
will outline the responses.
4. ARDC has funded millions of dollars in grants, some of those grants
were to groups who participate in emergency communications.
5. ARDC has recently hired a Technical Director, who along with the
Technical Advisory Committee, is responsible for understanding what needs
to be done to support 44net and at what level.
6. 44net address space is a resource. Emergency Communications groups
can obtain address space for non-commercial and amateur radio use free of
charge. However, since ARDC is responsible for 44net address space usage,
under several legal requirements, and for technical cohesion certain
procedures must be implemented and enforced to assure proper use.
Suggestions and recommendations from users are welcome, but setting policy
takes studied review and time to implement. Please don't expect those
policies to be an immediate response. Also, please do not put words into
others' mouths.
-- John K7VE