Membership Regulations

JCIX Membership Regulations

Japan Community IX Association

DISCLAIMER: This is an unofficial English translation provided for reference purposes only. The Japanese text is the authoritative and controlling version. In the event of any inconsistency between the Japanese and English texts, the Japanese text shall prevail.

Chapter 1: General Provisions

(Purpose)

Article 1 These Regulations are established pursuant to the Articles of Incorporation of Japan Community IX Association (hereinafter “the Association”) to prescribe matters necessary regarding member admission, membership fees, and other membership matters.

(Categories of Membership)

Article 2 Members of the Association shall consist of Full Members and Associate Members as set forth in Article 5 of the Articles of Incorporation.

Full Members and Associate Members are distinguished by the presence or absence of voting rights at the General Meeting of Members. With respect to obligations based on membership status prescribed in these Regulations, including obligations to pay membership fees, both categories shall be treated identically unless otherwise specifically provided.

Chapter 2: Admission

(Admission Procedures)

Article 3 A person seeking admission as a member shall apply for membership in the manner separately prescribed by the Board of Directors, as provided in Article 6 of the Articles of Incorporation.

Admission shall be subject to approval by the Board of Directors.

(Exclusion of Antisocial Forces)

Article 4 A person seeking admission shall confirm, in the manner separately prescribed by the Association, that neither they nor their officers constitute Antisocial Forces and that they have no relationship with Antisocial Forces.

Chapter 3: Membership Fees

(Types of Membership Fees and Payment Obligations)

Article 5 All members, whether Full Members or Associate Members, shall be obligated, pursuant to Article 7 of the Articles of Incorporation, to pay the following fees to cover costs regularly incurred in the Association’s business activities:

Initiation Fee: Payable once at the time of admission.
Annual Membership Fee: Payable for each Fiscal Year (from April 1 to March 31 of the following year).
The amounts of the Initiation Fee and Annual Membership Fee shall be as separately determined by the General Meeting of Members in accordance with Article 7 of the Articles of Incorporation.
In consideration of members’ financial burden, the Annual Membership Fee shall be borne on a monthly pro-rata basis. The amount of the Annual Membership Fee attributable to each month (hereinafter “Monthly Fee”) shall be the Annual Membership Fee divided by twelve, and the obligation to pay the Monthly Fee for each month shall arise upon the expiration of such month.
If a member is admitted or withdraws during a Fiscal Year, the Annual Membership Fee for that Fiscal Year shall be the sum of the Monthly Fees corresponding to the number of months during which the person was a member. The month of admission and the month of withdrawal shall each be counted as one full month.

(Basic Package)

Article 6 The Annual Membership Fee shall include the following as the Basic Package for the Service:

One connection port to the IX Fabric, regardless of speed or connection type.
One IPv4 address.
The treatment of, and charges for, use of Service resources beyond the Basic Package (additional connection ports, additional IPv4 addresses, etc.) shall be governed by the JCIX Connection Terms and Conditions and the Fee Schedule as delegated thereunder.

(Payment Method and Timing)

Article 7 The Initiation Fee shall be paid in full within 30 days of receipt of the notice of admission approval.

The Annual Membership Fee shall be invoiced monthly as a Monthly Fee, either by invoice issued by the Association or via a payment method designated by the Association. The payment due date for the Monthly Fee for each month shall be separately prescribed by the Association.
If a member withdraws or loses membership status, the Association shall not issue invoices for Monthly Fees attributable to months falling on or after the month following the month in which such withdrawal or loss of status takes effect.
Payment shall be made by a method designated by the Association, including credit card payment.

(Fee Reduction or Waiver)

Article 8 The Association may, by resolution of the Board of Directors, reduce or waive the whole or part of membership fees for a member who is recognized as contributing to technical research, development, or promotion of Internet peering activities related to the Service, or who otherwise meets the criteria separately prescribed by the Association.

The criteria for fee reduction or waiver, application procedures, and other matters necessary regarding such reduction or waiver shall be governed by the Fee Reduction Internal Regulation separately prescribed by the Association.

(Non-refundability of Fees)

Article 9 Initiation Fees and membership fees already paid shall not be refunded by reason of withdrawal, expulsion, or any other reason; provided, however, that this shall not apply where the reason is attributable to the Association.

(Measures for Non-payment of Fees)

Article 10 Pursuant to Article 7, paragraph 2 of the Articles of Incorporation, the Association may suspend the right to receive the Service and other membership rights of a member whose membership fees are in arrears.

Service suspension measures and other technical measures shall be governed by the JCIX Connection Terms and Conditions.

Chapter 4: Withdrawal and Loss of Membership Status

(Voluntary Withdrawal)

Article 11 A member may voluntarily withdraw at any time by submitting a withdrawal notice in the form separately prescribed by the Board of Directors, as provided in Article 8 of the Articles of Incorporation.

Procedures for terminating use of the Service upon withdrawal (including Service suspension measures) shall be governed by the JCIX Connection Terms and Conditions.

(Expulsion)

Article 12 Expulsion of a member shall be governed by Article 9 of the Articles of Incorporation.

(Treatment of the Service Upon Loss of Membership Status)

Article 13 If a member loses membership status, the right to use the Service shall simultaneously be extinguished and the Connection Agreement shall be terminated.

Chapter 5: Miscellaneous Provisions

(Amendment and Abolition of These Regulations)

Article 14 Amendment and abolition of these Regulations shall be carried out by the Chief Executive Director following a resolution of the Board of Directors pursuant to Article 40 of the Articles of Incorporation; provided, however, that matters relating to the amount of membership fees shall require a resolution of the General Meeting of Members.

Supplementary Provisions

These Regulations shall take effect on June 1, 2026.
(Special Provisions for Membership Fees During the Trial Period) Notwithstanding the provisions of Chapter 3, Initiation Fees and Annual Membership Fees for members transitioning from the experimental Internet Exchange service previously operated by the Association (hereinafter “Transitioning Members”) shall be treated as follows:
1. During the period ending August 31, 2026 (hereinafter “Trial Period”), no Annual Membership Fee shall be charged to Transitioning Members. Monthly Fees attributable to the Trial Period shall be waived and shall not be retroactively invoiced on or after September 1, 2026.
2. Annual Membership Fees for Transitioning Members shall commence from the Monthly Fee for September 2026, and Monthly Fees for September 2026 and thereafter shall be invoiced.
3. Payment of the Initiation Fee for Transitioning Members shall be deferred during the Trial Period, and the Initiation Fee shall be invoiced on September 1, 2026.
The special provisions in the preceding paragraph shall not apply to members other than Transitioning Members. Membership fees for persons other than Transitioning Members who join during the Trial Period shall be governed by the main provisions of Chapter 3.