The latest

On Friday, June 27, 1997 2:58 AM, Tim Gibson[SMTP:tim at fastlane.ca] wrote:
@ 
@ >   I do remember Michaels strong possition in favor of
@ > the IAHC perposal, which is withering away nearly as
@ > we speek here.  Not only is the ARIN getting a monopoly
@ > in North america, but South america and canada as well
@ > If I am not mistakin?  But I am not sure that this
@ > is necessarly a bad thing short term.  I do believe 
@ > that within the Trade zones is where currently this
@ > managment of IP addresses should fall, but as the
@ > need increases for IP numbers, this may not hold.
@ 
@ Sure this isn't a bad thing for Canada... I still can't get a full class C 
@ up here and I have a customer with 2000 PCs on a LAN. Now instead of 
@ telling the customer that Kim says it can't be justified, I can tell them 
@ they have to pay some U.S. non-profit (my bloody ass!) organization to 
@ get the numbers.
@ 
@ Tim Gibson
@ Skyscape Communications
@ 
@ 

Here is the actual Press Release from the NSF.
You might want to contact Beth Gaston to get
more of the details of what is going on.

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Title  : INTERNET Moves Toward Privatization--IP Numbers Handled by Non-Profit
Type   : Press Release
NSF Org: OD / LPA
Date   : June 24, 1997
File   : pr9746

Media contact:                                     June 24, 1997
Beth Gaston                                         NSF PR 97-46
(703) 306-1070/egaston at nsf.gov

               INTERNET MOVES TOWARD PRIVATIZATION
                IP Numbers Handled by Non-Profit

     The National Science Foundation (NSF) announced today an
action that moves the Internet toward privatization.  Internet
Protocol number assignments will soon be handled by a non-profit
organization.

     The NSF has approved a plan from Network Solutions, Inc.
(NSI) which establishes the American Registry for Internet
Numbers (ARIN).  Under the plan, ARIN would assume full
responsibility for Internet Protocol (IP) number assignments and
related administrative tasks previously handled by NSI.  The
shift, expected to be fully implemented before March 1998,
separates the assignment of Internet numbers (addresses) used for
Internet routing from domain name registration activities (which
will continue to be handled by Network Solutions).  The move will
affect only a relatively small number of Internet service
providers and very large institutional users -- around 300 last
year -- who obtain their IP assignments directly from NSI.  Most
Internet users will be unaffected by the change and most Internet
service providers will continue to obtain their IP assignments
from their providers.

     The creation of ARIN is consistent with the recommendations
received from the Internet community at workshops over the past
eighteen months, and with concurrence from a federal interagency
working group.

     "This move is another step by the federal government in the
continuing privatization and commercialization of the Internet,"
said George Strawn, director of the Networking and Communications
Research and Infrastructure division at NSF.  "The Internet is no
longer in its infancy.  It is growing up into a commercially
based, self-regulating entity. NSI should be lauded for aiding
this transition."

     The establishment of ARIN is important for the continued
growth and the global stability of the Internet, Strawn said.
ARIN is patterned after the successful RIPENIC and APNIC
registration activities in Europe and Asia.  Regional registries
are also being created by providers in Latin America and Africa
to assume responsibility for IP number assignment in those areas.
It is anticipated that before long, a global council of the
regional registries may work together to determine consistant and
equitable global policies for IP allocation and management.

     The creation of ARIN will not change any current policies or
procedures for obtaining Internet numbers.  Creation of ARIN will
give the users of IP numbers (mostly Internet service providers,
corporations and other large institutions) a voice in the
policies by which they are managed and allocated within the North
American region.

     ARIN is intended to provide Internet service providers in
North America an opportunity to help develop Internet management
policies within the region and, through ARIN's collaboration with
other regional registries, globally.

                              -NSF-

Editors:  More information about ARIN, see: http://www.arin.net

NSF is making a transition to new forms of electronic
distribution of news materials.  We will eventually replace the
current "listserve" with a new Custom News Service.  From the NSF
home page, (URL: http://www.nsf.gov), you will be able to
automatically sign up for and receive electronic transmissions of
all materials (or those of your own choosing).  NSF is an
independent federal agency responsible for fundamental research
in all fields of science and engineering, with an annual budget
of about $3.3 billion.  NSF funds reach all 50 states, through
grants to more than 2,000 universities and institutions
nationwide.  NSF  receives more than 50,000 requests for funding
annually, including at least 30,000 new proposals.  Also see NSF
news products at: http://www.nsf.gov:80/od/lpa/start.htm,
http://www.eurekalert.org/, and http://www.ari.net/newswise

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--
Jim Fleming
Unir Corporation