[ppml] Increase the flexibility of IP allocations to facilitate planning

[Michael.Dillon at radianz.com]

I believe that the current policy for IPv4 allocations is too rigid and 
should be made more flexible in a number of areas.

A 3-month allocation cycle is too short. This should be increased to allow 
organizations to receive a 6 month supply of IPv4 addresses.

The 80% usage requirement before applying for more addresses is too rigid. 
This should be loosened up to allow organizations to apply for new 
addresses before they have reached 80% usage as long as they can supply 
usage trend data that shows they will surpass 80% within 6 months.

There needs to be a clear appeal process. Currently the only appeal route 
is to a non-existent organization, namely IANA. I have tried to contact 
IANA on another matter and after 11 days and two attempts I still have no 
reply. If a telephone company is denied new phone number blocks by NANPA 
they can appeal to have that decision overturned by the PUC. We have no 
similar appeal possibility within ARIN.

Organizations are penalized for using IPv4 addresses efficiently because 
if they do so, they have no internal buffer of hidden IPv4 addresses that 
they can use in the event that an allocation request is denied or delayed. 
The net effect is to encourage organizations to keep a secret stash of IP 
addresses that they could use if necessary.

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Michael Dillon
Capacity Planning, Prescot St., London, UK
Mobile: +44 7900 823 672    Internet: michael.dillon at radianz.com
Phone: +44 20 7650 9493    Fax: +44 20 7650 9030