Fees - FAQs
- APNIC fees are now payable in Australian dollars (AUD)
- Making payments in AUD
- How were the new APNIC fees (in AUD) determined?
- How was the decision made?
- Does the Executive Council have the authority to change the fee structure?
- How long will this fee structure remain in place?
- Downgrading your membership to reduce your fees
APNIC fees are payable in Australian dollars (AUD)
From 2007, APNIC fees were charged in AUD.
The decision to change from US dollars to Australian dollars was made because the US dollars fluctuating value was causing APNICs financial position to deteriorate.
Most of APNICs expenses are paid for in Australian dollars, so in order to ensure a stable and predictable budget, it was determined that our revenue should also be in the same currency.
Making payments in AUD
Your bank should be able to convert your local currency into Australian dollars using the exchange rate applicable to that day. If your bank does not have this facility, contact Helpdesk for assistance.
How were the new APNIC fees (in AUD) determined?
The AUD fees were calculated directly from the existing USD fee schedule based on the exchange rate of .07889 which was the expected exchange rate for 2007 (the year in which the fees were changed).
How was the decision made?
An initial proposal made at APNIC 24 specified the fee change to AUD using the conversion rate of 0.7889 including a fee increase of 7 per cent. This proposal failed to pass by a narrow margin, however, in 2007, the APNIC Executive Council considered the outcome of the vote in light of the financial environment and determined that APNIC would change its fee schedule to use AUD but without the 7 per cent fee increase.
Does the Executive Council have the authority to change the fee structure?
Under the APNIC By-laws, the APNIC EC has the responsibility of establishing the membership fees. While a number of changes in the fee schedule were undertaken by the EC following a vote by the APNIC membership in the past, such membership votes were not strictly necessary under the Bylaws. In this case, the EC felt it necessary to exercise its authority based on the previous vote and associated discussions.
The possibility of changing to Australian currency and not increasing the fees was raised numerous times during previous discussions at APNIC meetings and within the Fees Working Group. It received widespread support with no objections.
How long will this fee structure remain in place?
Before this adjustment, the APNIC fee structure had not changed significantly for several years. This measure was undertaken based upon an analysis that further variation in the exchange rate between USD and AUD would further threaten APNIC’s financial stability. Fee structure reviews are undertaken in conjunction with the membership via the Fees Working Group.
Downgrading your membership to reduce your fees
Your membership tier is directly related to the amount of Internet number resources you hold. To move to a lower tier, you are required to return resources to APNIC.