There are four classes of membership: Vendor, Auditing, Utility, and Sponsoring. Vendors of software belong in the vendor class. Consultants and integrators that do not sell software products, and other interested parties belong to the auditing membership class. Utilities are a part of the utility class. Sponsoring membership is a special case set up for trade organizations or governmental entities that may wish to provide significant funding to advance the MultiSpeak specification. Acceptance of an organization for Sponsoring membership requires special action of the MultiSpeak Advisory Board, the governing body of MultiSpeak.

Cost of Vendor Membership

The base membership for Vendor members is $5,000/year. However, the group wishes to recognize prior participation in the development of the specification. To this end, vendor members can receive credits for prior participation in vendor’s group meetings. The use of up to four credits per year, at $500 each is permitted. Hence a vendor with a sufficient number of credits for past meeting participation will only pay $3,000/year until such time as the banked meeting credits are exhausted. If a Vendor Member joins after January 1, of any year, its dues shall be prorated based on the number of days during the first year that it is a member compared to a full year of 365 days.

Cost of Auditing Membership

Auditing membership is: (i) $1,200/year, or (ii) $400/year for NRECA voting members that are not software vendors or utilities. If an Auditing Member joins after January 1, or any year, its dues shall be prorated based on the number of days during the first year that it is a member compared to a full year of 365 days. 

Benefits of Vendor/Auditing Membership

Vendor members may attend all meetings of MultiSpeak, whether technical or business-related, with the exception of Advisory Board meetings. They may vote on any technical or business issues that are put to vote at those meetings. Auditing members may not vote on any issue at those meetings. They have the right to nominate and vote for four of the nine members of the MultiSpeak Advisory Board, however, Auditing Members cannot serve as an Advisory Board member. Vendor/Auditing membership also entitles the member to a $5,000 annual credit against the trademark license fee. Vendor/Auditing members also get access to, and can influence the direction of, early drafts of new versions of the specification. Vendor/Auditing members also have access to releases of the specification prior to non-members.

Cost of Utility Membership

Utility membership is: (i) $1,200/year, or (ii) $100/year for NRECA voting member electric cooperative utilities.

Benefits of Utility Membership

Utility membership entitles the member to attend any meeting of MultiSpeak, with the exception of Advisory Board meetings. Utility members may elect four of the nine members of the Advisory Board. Utility members also get access to, and can influence the direction of, early drafts of new versions of the specification. Utility members also have access to releases of the specification prior to non-members.

Find out more about the Benefits of Membership.