Paul Sladen via 44Net 44net@mailman.ampr.org wrote:
(ADRC is custodian of US$0.25+ Billion in tangible +non-tangibles).
We will be able to talk about the actual numbers as soon as ...
Tangible numbers are unncessary for discussion of the quarter-billion, which is obtainable purely from remaining intangibles (unsold IPs):
- US$0.25+ Billion == nominal book value of the remaining IPs (intangible assets) held by ADRC: ($20 * ~12.58 million)
...accounting for retained IPs in the "total assets" appears to be a necessary condition, to have allowed made the declaration that the sale of ~25% of total assets was "insubstantial". (p.1):
The important distinction in that declaration is that we sold 25% of one asset, not "essentially all" of the nonprofit's assets. That part of the determination is independent of the value of the assets.
The retained IP addresses ARE carried in our total assets. But their dollar value on our books is not $20 * ~12.58M; it's zero.
We rely on the answers we get from paid professional CPAs (Certified Public Accountants) to properly interpret the US GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) standards. In particular, on this topic, they say:
To date, ARDC has carried its support of its network of amateur radio operators by making available and administering a block of 16,777,216 internet protocol (IPv4) addresses on which the amateur radio operators communicate, experiment and research technologies without charge by ARDC. These addresses were acquired in 1981 at no charge from Federal agencies overseeing the creation of the internet. At the time of receipt, there was no discernible market value for the IPv4 addresses and, accordingly, they are carried at no value on ARDC's statement of financial position.
This is consistent with our understanding of how other US non-profit organizations carry assets on their books at acquisition value until they're sold. The consistent advice we've received from our accountants is that the value on our books of the remaining addresses didn't change just because we sold some of them.
John (ARDC Audit Committee) & Bdale (ARDC Treasurer)