Fwd: Update on feedback on US-based meetings, and IETF 102

FYI — this is the information as we have it.

Leslie.

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Leslie Daigle
Principal, ThinkingCat Enterprises LLC
ldaigle(_at_)thinkingcat(_dot_)com
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Forwarded message:

> From: IAOC Chair <iaoc-chair(_at_)ietf(_dot_)org>
> To: IETF Announcement List <ietf-announce(_at_)ietf(_dot_)org>
> Subject: Update on feedback on US-based meetings, and IETF 102
> Date: Wed, 12 Apr 2017 16:39:18 -0700
>
> On March 31, 2017, we put out a request for input on experiences with 
> travel to the recent IETF meeting in the US, and solicited information 
> pertinent to plans to attend IETF meetings within or outside the US in 
> the coming years.  We have had over 350 responses to the 
> questionnaire, and we appreciate each and every one of them!   We did 
> not gather the data in such a way for it to reflect a representative 
> sample of the IETF community, or of potential meeting attendees. But 
> we did gain insights from those who responded that we did not have 
> before.
> Over 40% of the respondents said they had attended 20 or more IETF 
> meetings, and over 50% of them said they were authors of active 
> working group documents.  Slightly more than 40% stated US residency, 
> and just less than 60% said they were not US-resident.
> There was a noted impact of the recent changes to US travel policies 
> and procedures.  Of the respondents living outside of the US who did 
> NOT attend the IETF meeting in Chicago, a few were denied visas or 
> entry into the US, and more than 30 said they did not come because of 
> concerns about US travel restrictions.  On the other hand 45 people 
> said they were not troubled by the US situation (and presumably chose 
> not to come for other reasons).
> For those who did travel to IETF 98 in Chicago, the written comments 
> were illuminating:  most people had no issues (for some, even a 
> smoother border crossing than usual); some people experienced the 
> expected flutter over visa approvals as things were in flux as the US 
> Executive Order and court stays played out, but were eventually able 
> to come.
> The general comments on meeting in the US played along the same lines 
> as has been shared on the IETF discussion list:  people are variously 
> for moving all meetings out of the US, or adamantly against, or 
> somewhere in between, each position supported by good reasons.
> The IAOC is continuing to gather data on travel to the US, concerns 
> about traveling outside of it, and what alternatives are possible for 
> IETF 102.  Our focus is currently on whether holding IETF 102 in San 
> Francisco is the best option to meet the needs of IETF work, 
> recognizing that we cannot predict the future.  While it may take 
> several weeks to allow for review and negotiation of any alternatives 
> (if applicable), we are moving as quickly as possible because we 
> realize that people will need time to plan their travel.
>
> Leslie, for the IAOC.