[arin-discuss] ARIN Travel

[Owen DeLong]

On Nov 2, 2007, at 3:34 PM, G.Hiscott wrote:

> The fact that you are part of a large organization explains your  
> viewpoint.
>
>
Not entirely, but, I agree, partially.

> I am from a small organization.  It is a big deal for me to send
> somebody to any of these meetings.  I much prefer to using  
> technology to
> aid in participation than to the way ARIN does it now.
>
I am also from a small organization.  I have been on both sides of the
equation, however.  I have worked in large and small organizations and
just about everything in between.

However, one thing which concerns me is that you speak of "The way
ARIN does it now" as if there were a single way used by ARIN.  The
reality is that ARIN uses a variety of tools.  The semi-annual public
policy and members meetings are merely one of many methods
used by ARIN to solicit input and gauge consensus of the community.

There is also the possibility to use technology and participate in the
meetings remotely. Additionally, mailing lists such as arin-discuss
and the PPML are used.  All of this input is reviewed and analyzed
by the AC in gauging community consensus on policies.

> ARIN and the members should not ignore the above.  Notice how the  
> folks
> from large orgs. tend to like the status quo and people who are part  
> of
> smaller organizations tend to not like it.  Did ya notice that ??
>
No, actually, I don't think that pattern holds as true as you claim.   
I do know
that among the attendees I talked to in ABQ, the majority were actually
not from particularly large organizations.  I also know that the  
makeup of
the AC is not dominated by large organizations.

I currently work for a very small startup.  If you read today's  
announcement
from ARIN, you will see that I was elected to serve a 3-year term on the
ARIN AC.  I don't think this is a sign that the status quo favors large
organizations.

> I think ARIN should be working on the SPAM problem.  Hunt down the
> egregious spammers and disable their blocks.  Collaborate with the  
> other
> number managers to reach to anywhere the problem is.

Noted.  However, I'd like to know what role you think ARIN has here.   
ARIN
does not control the routing of IP addresses.  ARIN has the ability to  
assign,
and, in some very limited cases, un-assign addresses.  ARIN doesn't  
manage
routers, so, they really don't have much of an ability to "disable  
their blocks".

I would like to see ARIN start taking a more proactive role in  
reclaiming
blocks which are not in use or which are being used in a manner which
is inconsistent with ARIN policy.  However, getting into defining SPAM
and attacking it at the IP assignment level is a much more involved
discussion.

If you feel you have a concrete idea for how to do this, then, I  
encourage
you to submit a policy proposal so that the community can review your
idea and act on it as appropriate.
>
>
> Publish or collect online course ware for how the numbering system  
> works.
>
ARIN is actually working on some aspects of this.  Specific suggestions
are always welcome, in my experience.

> IP address space is like gasoline.  If you need it then you know that
> you need it and you can find out how to get it.  It is not rocket
> science nor should it be required curriculum at university.
>
That's not entirely true.  First, everyone who uses gasoline seems to
know what gasoline is.  I know lots of people who use the internet
that have no idea what an IP address is or how to get one.

> ARIN should work to reduce costs so that the membership costs and
> related fees are lower.
>
What do you believe would be an appropriate annual membership fee?

> They don't need to fly around the service area to meet with other the
> membership.  This is wasteful.
>
I completely disagree.  While I agree that much can be accomplished
without traveling and that there are good applications of technology  
here,
in many cases, there is simply no substitute for giving an in-person
presentation and shaking hands, answering questions, and engaging
in the odd hallway discussion.

Like it or not, it is human nature to place more trust and be more
accepting of a presentation that is done face-to-face by a live
human being.

This is the nature of outreach and I think that ARIN has been doing
some excellent work in this area.  The increasing number of
organizations represented on PPML and ARIN-DISCUSS that
are end-users and smaller ISPs is an indication that what ARIN is
doing currently is, actually, working towards your stated goals.

Owen

> GJH
>
>
>
> Bill Darte wrote:
>> If ARIN were to restrict its outreach through telconf meetings there
>> would be howl about catering to only techies and those with such
>> resources.  ARIN travels about the service area precisely so that  
>> many
>> can attend who cannot fly off to expensive places.
>>
>> Outreach is not a joke...it's hard to gain mindshare of all those who
>> need let alone those who should know of the v4 and v6 issues.  If you
>> have more suggestions on how to actually reach and inform more
>> audiences, your input is welcome.
>>
>> I teach at a premier university and while you're right, students  
>> know of
>> the internet and use it, but its remarkable how little they know   
>> of how
>> it works...even when the subject being taught involves these
>> protocols..and those are graduate students and technologists from
>> prestigious companies....
>>
>> Bill Darte
>> ARIN AC
>> Washington University in St. Louis
>>
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