Based on original by Jerry Schwartz 1995-97
Used without permission under claim of fair use
Heavily modified by Philip Lozier 2001 for purposes of updating information
NO CLAIMS OF COPYRIGHT OR RESTRICTIONS ARE CLAIMED OR OTHERWISE IMPLIED



Who Runs FidoNet?
-----------------

The nodes which make up FidoNet are owned by the individual hobbyists,
schools, businesses, and clubs. Since most of them are Bulletin Board
Systems first, and FidoNet nodes second, they are an independent lot;
they always have the option of leaving FidoNet, adding or even starting
other networks (both FTNs and others), or just going it alone.

Curiously (or perhaps inevitably) for such a loosely defined group,
FidoNet is not a democracy. It is formally an autocracy consisting of: 

An International Coordinator; 
Six Zone Coordinators; 
A few dozen Regional Coordinators; 
Scores of Net Coordinators; and 
A large number of Hub Coordinators.
 
The IC is elected by the Zone Coordinators from among themselves;
the Zone Coordinators are elected by the Regional Coordinators in their
Zone;
and all of the other Coordinators are appointed by the level above
them, and serve at pleasure.
(Note that the Zone Coordinator appoints the very Regional Coordinators
who in turn elect them.)

Originally this type of appointment method created a very closed input method
from the rest of FidoNet, however, many levels have now been handling their
methods of appointments or voting by basing their decisions on a lower level
vote that they choose to impliment.

For example, when a new IC is needed, although only the ZCs can vote the
new IC in, many have opted to allow regional input from the RCs, who in
turn pass down a node level vote which they will honor the results of when
casting "their" vote.  This type of practice is becoming more and more
common in all levels of FidoNet and apears to be the course for the future.

The primary duty of each Coordinator is to edit a portion of the
Nodelist; that portion is sent up the chain for consolidation and then a
master update is passed back down. Their other duty is to settle
disputes; their only power to enforce their decisions is embodied in
their control of a Nodelist segment, and that means that the only
effective punishment which can be meted out is excommunication (loss of
a Nodelist entry). The Network Coordinators have the additional duty of
fielding new node applications.

None of the Coordinators is paid, nor are they under any contractual
constraints: FidoNet has no corporate existence in any formal legal
sense, and no dues, meetings, or any of the usual trappings of an
association or club. In fact, FidoNet has very few rules, chiefly 

Meet the technical requirements promulgated by a standards committee; 
Use a current Nodelist; 
Be able to receive mail at the appointed time (each Zone designates an
hour for this);
Do not be excessively annoying; and Do not be too easily
annoyed.

Clearly there is some room for interpretation, and so the
diplomatic skills of a Coordinator can make the difference between a
happy Net and a Net in open rebellion.

The tension between a rigid autocracy on the one hand and a "go shove
it" attitude on the part of the individual sysops is what keeps FidoNet
flexible (and keeps certain echoes boiling). In many places,
Coordinators are effectively elected despite the rules: the winner of
the election is appointed by the Coordinator above. 

All of this is spelled out in the document referred to as " Policy4 "
(P4); despite its shortcomings, every attempt to replace or amend P4 has
failed.