NANOG FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Who runs the NANOG meetings?

NANOG began when MeritNetwork, Inc. won a $39 million grant from National Science Foundation to re-engineer and manage the NSFNET — the first national, high-speed Internet backbone — in the name of research and education. The “Regional Techs” meetings that were first formed as a means of gathering and sharing information, would later become the NANOG you know and love today.

On May 11, 2010, we branched off from MeritNetwork to officially incorporate as a new 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit: NewNOG, Inc. And in June, 2019, The North American Network Operators' Group officially reclaimed its original moniker; NANOG.

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How is NANOG funded?

All NANOG funds come directly from membership dues, sponsorships, and donations.

Become a Member

Types of Sponsorship

Donate to NANOG

How does NANOG select each meeting agenda, as well as presentation topics, and speakers?

Given by many of the industry’s top minds, presentations at NANOG are meant to spark the imagination, encourage dialog, and drive new solutions to our greatest networking challenges. The NANOG Program Committee (PC) is responsible for the programs at all NANOG meetings and events — reviewing and voting to select from submitted talks to curate a program of the highest quality and relevance for our community.

The PC welcomes all meeting attendees and vendors to submit full-length presentations, panels, tutorials, lightning talks, and track sessions focused on current technologies or soon-to-be deployed technologies and industry innovation.

Submit a Presentation

Learn More About the PC

How does NANOG choose the venues for each of its tri-annual meetings?

Meeting sites selection depends on a number of criteria. Before sending out a request for proposal (RFP), NANOG checks the industry events calendars (ISOC and NSRC). We also consider US, Canadian, and religious holidays, and look for available weeks to hold the NANOG meeting.

We typically search for downtown venues that are close to nightlife and restaurants, and also ensure the hotel will agree to our network requirements, the meeting space to be contracted, as well as hotel guest room rates, and F&B minimums.