[ARIN-consult] Consultation on Changes to the Specified Transfer Listing Service (STLS)

[ARIN]

Today ARIN operates a service referred to as the Specified Transfer
Listing Service (STLS). One aspect of this service provides a listing of
individuals and organizations that have registered with ARIN as a
transfer facilitator. This is a service intended to provide the
community with an easily accessible list of possible facilitators to
assist them in either being a source for a transfer or a recipient of a
transfer. All transfer facilitators must pay a $1,000 (USD) fee and
agree to the STLS Terms of Service before being listed publicly on our
Registered Transfer Facilitators List. This list is not intended to
endorse or recommend any of the facilitators listed but rather to
provide contact information for anyone interested. It is recommended
that anyone engaging one of these facilitators perform their own due
diligence. ARIN will not act as a referral or comment on the services
that any of these facilitators perform.

ARIN has received a suggestion via the ARIN Consultation & Suggestion
Process (ACSP) regarding potential changes to the registered transfer
facilitator service. The suggestion has been closed due to specific
terms and conditions being outside the scope of ACSP; however, the
suggestion and its accompanying documentation are still available for
review. It may help this discussion if interested parties reviewed that
documentation prior to commenting on this consultation.

https://www.arin.net/vault/participate/acsp/suggestions/2018-20.html

ARIN is opening this consultation to gauge the community's interest in
possible changes to the registered transfer facilitator service. This
consultation is intended to be a high-level discussion of community
interest to determine if further analysis or actions are recommended by
the community.

Question #1: Should ARIN continue to offer the registered transfer
facilitator service?

At present, we do offer a registered transfer facilitator service with
26 registered facilitators. Staff will point customers to this list if
requested, but will make it very clear that ARIN does not endorse nor
recommend any particular member of the list. ARIN will not answer any
questions about any members on the list or even confirm that they have
been involved in the completion of any transfers. This consultation
seeks community feedback as to the usefulness of this service and
whether ARIN should continue to provide this service in its current
form. We appreciate any and all community feedback to help us evaluate
this service.

Question #2: Should ARIN perform some form of verification to confirm
the facilitator actually provides transfer facilitation?

At present, ARIN staff conducts very little verification of
facilitators. Should there be some minimum set of criteria that must be
met in order to be registered as a transfer facilitator? Examples might
include:

     * Verify the organization has a web site advertising transfer service
     * Verify the organization has completed a minimum number of transfers
     * Verify customers who have used the facilitator
     * Vet a facilitator the same as any organization wishing to do
business with ARIN
     * Any other criteria?

Question #3: Should ARIN verify the business is capable of completing
transfers – for example, verifying licensing/bonding, or insurance?

At present, we do not conduct any checks of licensing, financing, or
insurance. Should there be some set of business criteria a transfer
facilitator must meet in order to be registered? Examples might include:

     * Appropriate business licensing
     * Verification of bonding, insurance, or similar
     * Other?

Question #4: Should ARIN offer the ability for customers to provide
feedback on facilitators?

At present, we offer no ability for customers to leave feedback on
facilitators. Should we offer this service? If so, should ARIN verify
customer providing the feedback has actually used that facilitator
before allowing feedback? Should there be a mechanism for registered
facilitators to contest feedback they believe is not legitimate?
Question #5: Should the fees for registered transfer facilitators be
adjusted?

At present, we charge a $1,000 annual fee. Since we operate on a
cost-recovery basis, and since some of the possible enhancements would
likely increase the cost required to process each facilitator
registration request, should fees be increased to cover this added cost?

We welcome the community's feedback. This consultation will remain open
for two weeks and close on 21 September 2018.

Regards,

John Curran
President and CEO
American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN)