While Fidonet doesn't _need_ multiple zones, we have them, and mail is flowing, so "fixing" this is low on the priority list.

What we don't need is regions (except for the archaic nodelist format). Nowadays the RINs are obsolete, so they are no longer needed.

The original idea was that each zone should have ten regions e.g. 10-19 in zone 1, 20-29 in zone 2 and so on. Each zone should have a hundred nets e.g. 100-1099 in region 10, 110-1199 in region 1:11 and so on.

But it didn't take long before net 1:202 was created. The net where I first got my nodenumber was 2:202. By then I often got netmail addressed to my node intended for the duplicate 1:202 node.

Removing all regions save for a single place-holder for our nodelist would be a big step forward. Today's RCs are nothing but nodelist clerks not even needed, our ZCs can easily handle net segments.

But we (yes, that includes me, RC20) still have an unreasonable power to influence not only important elections, but, even worse, such things as veto any changes to our policy documents.


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That's all RCs are supposed to be.

If you read P4 you'll see that we are given far more than that. And we are not even supposed to route netmail:

"A Regional Coordinator does not perform message-forwarding
services for any nodes in the region."

We are the only ones that can vote in any FTSC election.

We are the only ones that can vote for a policy change.

We are the only ones that select our ZC -- who in turn selects the RCs (kinda a Catch 22 moment, rather undemocratic if you ask me).

And the list goes on. Even the ZCs have less power than we...



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While Fidonet doesn't _need_ multiple zones, we have them, and mail is
flowing, so "fixing" this is low on the priority list.

What we don't need is regions (except for the archaic nodelist format). Nowadays the RINs are obsolete, so they are no longer needed.

I suppose it could be, but I don't think removing zones or regions would help keeping Fidonet going.

Removing all regions save for a single place-holder for our nodelist would
be a big step forward. Today's RCs are nothing but nodelist clerks not even needed, our ZCs can easily handle net segments.

Yes, they could, but the ZC getting good segments from RCs who in turn get good segments from NCs makes their jobs easier and their are more eyes on it.

But we (yes, that includes me, RC20) still have an unreasonable power to influence not only important elections, but, even worse, such things as veto any changes to our policy documents.

Yes, the real power in Fidonet (according to policy) is in the hands of the RCs. It's important for the smooth operation of Fidonet that we have all the NC/RC/ZC positions filled with people who understand that and are willing to work together for the common good of Fidonet.

--- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-4
* Origin: The Rusty MailBox - Penticton, BC Canada (1:153/757)

Yes, they could, but the ZC getting good segments from RCs who in turn
get good segments from NCs makes their jobs easier and their are more
eyes on it.

As you may have seen in my retraction comment later, I agree.

It's important for the smooth operation of Fidonet that we have
all the NC/RC/ZC positions filled with people who understand that and
are willing to work together for the common good of Fidonet.

Yes, I once again agree. And here is the big problem when maintaining the glue that keeps Fidonet together -- the nodelist -- we do not have that.

It's the ZCs that ignores RCs that does not perform properly, and subsequently their NCs that does not perform properly, that is the problem that we have struggled with for decades now.



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So which ZCs (plural, as in your claim) are malfuntioning

I'm talking not about the present (that from my horizon looks very bright) but from a historical POV.

Surely you will not claim that all ZCs since I joined Fidonet in 1988 have been performing properly?



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