[arin-ppml] Policy Proposal: Annual WHOIS POC Validation

[michael.dillon at bt.com]

>  Or, tell the list the REAL reason 
> you don't want the POC's e-mail addresses verified.

The real reason is that email sucks as a universal contact
method. It may have been a good idea, and one that actually
worked, back in the early 1990's when everyone on the Internet
had an email address and used it.

But today, lots of people don't even use email. They use IM,
they use Twitter, they post comments on each others' blogs.

The bottom line here is that there is a benefit to us if
every org with IP address blocks is *CONTACTABLE*. There is
no real benefit to specifying the method of contact. Even many
of the blocks with a valid working email address, actually
go to some email robot which perhaps opens a low priority ticket
which some low-level front-line support person *MAY* pass on
to a relevant party if it suits them, or they may just close
that ticket to keep their stats looking good.

It would be reasonable for ARIN to begin by populating that
"last contacted date" with the most recent of (last bill payment
date, last conference registration date, last application for
resources date). It would be an awfully good idea for ARIN to
keep track of all contact info in their internal db, things like
IM addresses, phone numbers, personal email addresses, and anything
else that organizations may give to them. It would be very nice if
members in good standing could send a message (via email or a web form)
to ARIN for relaying to whatever contact means is available.
A service like that might encourage more orgs to give ARIN their
secret 3rd level support numbers, or personal email addresses of
clued individuals.

--Michael Dillon