[ppml] Definition of "Existing Known ISP"

[Matt Pounsett]

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On 30-Apr-2007, at 08:42 , Michael Hertrick wrote:

> I think that today's definition of ISP not not limited to user access,
> transit, and backbone services as it once was.  Companies providing
> web hosting and co-location services should be considered ISPs.  For
> that matter, there are also companies that call themselves ASPs,
> Application Service Providers, that have the same Internet number
> needs as ISPs.  I suppose that an ASP is an ISP even though the
> inverse is not necessarily true.  There are undoubtedly many Internet
> related services that would constitute a company's recognition as an
> Internet Service Provider.  Does the ARIN staff acknowledge that?

I agree with much of what you're saying here and in the rest of your  
email, but I don't completely agree with where you end up.  All ASPs,  
web hosting companies, and colo providers are not ISPs in the sense  
that the term is used in the NRPM.  I think it's important to look at  
the intent of the policy in order to find a better definition for  
"ISP" or to find a different word to use.

The defining characteristic of an "ISP" as referenced in the NRPM is  
that the organization reassigns address space to organizations other  
than itself.  Most web hosting companies and ASPs that I've seen do  
not fit this model, and are actually end users (though in some cases  
very large end users), and I think most colo providers do fit this  
model and should be classed as ISPs.  I think Steven Sprunk is on the  
right track, that we should perhaps be looking at using a new term  
(such as LIR) for these non-end-user organizations.  That would go a  
long way to helping clear up confusion.

Matt
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