[ppml] Re: AC Role (WAS: Independent space from ARIN)

[J. Scott Marcus]

Thanks, Bill.  This is well said.


---- Original message ----
>Date: Fri, 25 Apr 2003 05:36:43 -0500
>From: Bill Darte <billd at cait.wustl.edu>  
>Subject: RE: [ppml] Re: AC Role   (WAS: Independent space from ARIN)  
>To: "'J. Scott Marcus '" <scott at scottmarcus.com>, "'ppml at arin.net '" 
<ppml at arin.net>
>
>
>Alec said:
>
>> > The AC's role is explicitly defined in the ARIN bylaws.
>> > Article VIII, section 3:
>> >
>> > Function. It shall be the function of the Advisory Council to
>> > act in an
>> > advisory capacity to the Board of Trustees on matters as the Board
>of
>> > Trustees may, from time to time, request involving IP
>> > allocation policies
>> > and related matters. Between meetings of the Advisory Council, the
>> > President of ARIN shall be the point of contact between the Advisory
>> > Council and the Board of Trustees.
>> >
>> > ... It is not the AC's place to provide unsolicited
>> > advice to the BoT.
>
><Scott said>
>With all due respect, I don't think that this verbiage precludes the AC 
>from offering the BoT advice on issues where the BoT did not solicit 
>it.  It states what the "function", or job, of the AC is.  As long as
>the 
>AC is fulfilling its function, I don't think that this verbiage prevents
>an 
>activist AC from volunteering an opinion on matters where the BoT did
>not 
>specifically request it...
>
>At the same time, I do not think that the BoT is under any obligation to
>DO 
>anything with gratuitous advice from the AC
>< >
>
>I do think you are correct.  An activist AC could push an agenda beyond its
>mandate or respond to requests for opinion outside that mandate.  I believe
>the issue of ARIN being a key signer for DNSSec keys is an example.  This on
>its face is an operational issue having very little to do with IP allocation
>except that it might interfere.  The BoT specifically asked the AC for an
>analysis and a recommendation on ARIN's involvement.
>
>The AC is happy to oblige, and probably can provide some appropriate
>feedback.  I do believe that the scope of the issue is beyond the normal
>role of the AC and perhaps even its expertise.  Therein is the problem with
>this sort of tangential involvement.  
>
>The AC is selected by election to serve a pretty well defined role and
>presumably their experience leads them to be recognized as appropriate
>representatives.  When the AC is becomes activist or is diverted from that
>role, especially widely, they may be acting outside their ability to
>effectively serve the community they are supposed to represent.
>
>Bill Darte
>ARIN AC
>