Hello All,

 It seems to me that the proposed Fidonet Policy change has brought
some concerns about numbers. In particular, the numbers required for
each stage. The following is only my interpretation;

Note: I'm rounding up the numbers since it's really hard to find a
half a *C. :-)

The proposed change would require that 5% of those eligible to vote
can initiate a Referendum. Those eligible to vote includes all NCs,
RCs and ZCs. At my estimate, when trying to count from the current
Nodelist, there are about 437 NCs, 56 RCs and 6 ZCs. That's 499 total.
500 if you count the IC.

--- cut from proposal ---
8.1  Eligibility to vote

In the initiation and ratification stages, each FidoNet coordinator at
and above Network Coordinator is entitled to one vote. In the
referendum stage, only Regional Coordinators may vote. Echomail
Coordinators can not vote.
--- cut ---

(personally, I would remove the last sentence since it could be
interpreted to mean that NCs can not vote at all on any part of a
proposal)

So, to ask for a policy change to be considered would require 5% of
500, or at least 25 *Cs.

If this were changed to two thirds (66%), then; 66% of 500 would be at
least 330 *Cs to ask for a change to be considered.

Once enough *Cs request that a change be considered, the Referendum
starts. The referendum is done by the RCs only.

--- cut from proposal ---
8.3  Referendum

A vote to ratify amendments to, or new versions of, Policy is mandated
when a majority of Regional Coordinators responding to a referendum,
indicate that they wish to consider a Policy change.  Referendum
validation requires that a 10% minimum of all Regional Coordinators
respond.
--- cut ---

10% of /ALL/ RCs must respond before they can vote on taking the
proposal to the IC. At current estimate by me:

10% of 56 RCs = 5.6, or 6 RCs must be there.

Then a majority must vote in favor. I assume 51% is a majority. :) 51%
of 6 = 3.06, or 4 RCs at a minimum must approve to forward the
proposal to the IC.

Once the IC has the "ball":

--- cut from proposal ---
8.4  Ratification

Upon successful initiation and referendum, the International
Coordinator must announce and conduct a ballot to ratify a Policy
amendment. The actual voting mechanism, including how the ballots are
collected, verified, and counted, is left to the discretion of the
International Coordinator.
--- cut ---

At this point, this leaves everything to the IC. To me, the IC can do
as s/he please and all above is null and void.

And there you have it from my view. :-)

Regards,
Frank


... Think you're confused?  Wait till I explain it.

--- PPoint 3.01