[tor-relays] Call for discussion: turning funding into more exit relays

[Roger Dingledine]

On Mon, Jul 23, 2012 at 02:58:54PM -0400, Roger Dingledine wrote:
> Next steps:
[...]
> Then I'll send individual emails to exit relay operators pointing them
> to it and asking for their feedback (on the list or private, whichever
> they prefer). I'll also try to get some sense of how much their hosting
> costs, whether they'd want to participate in our experiment, whether
> they're in a position to ramp up to a faster connection, etc.

For context and transparency, here's the mail I've been sending current
fast exit relay operators. Please feel free to answer it here if you
prefer.

"""
I want to draw your attention to a thread I've started on the tor-relays
list:
https://lists.torproject.org/pipermail/tor-relays/2012-July/001433.html

In short, we have a funder who wants to sponsor more and faster Tor
exits, and we're brainstorming about how to use the money in a way that
makes the network stronger but also doesn't screw up the "community"
side of the Tor relay operator community. The first step is collecting
facts about the current fast Tor exit relays.

It would be great if you could join the conversation and give us your
perspective (either on the tor-relays list or in private, whichever
you prefer). I really want to make sure the current relay operators are
included in the decisions.

Also, if you are interested in sharing, it would be great to learn
(separated by exit relay if you run more than one):

- What do you currently pay for hosting/bandwidth, and how much bandwidth
do you get for that?

- Is it a stable hosting situation? For example, how do they handle
abuse complaints so far?

- Is your hosting situation one where it could make sense for us to
reimburse your bandwidth costs? (Some people have a deal through their
employer, friend, etc where they don't pay for hosting.)

- Are you in a position to get more bandwidth if you pay more? At what
rates? We're most interested in sponsoring >=100mbit relays.

- Do you have other locations in mind where you would run another exit
relay if you didn't have to pay for it?

- What else should we be asking here? :)

Thanks!
--Roger
"""