[arin-ppml] Policy Proposal (Global): Allocation of IPv4 Blocks to Regional Internet Registries - Revised

[Azinger, Marla]

The current text can easily be interpreted to mean all RIR's must return the address space.  ARIN AC is working on a revision that makes it an option and not a requirement as the current text would undermine other current ARIN policy regarding reclamation.  We dont see anything wrong with permitting other RIR's to return the space if they choose to do so, but making it a requirement would not support ARIN policy and we dont want conflicting policies.

Cheers
Marla Azinger

-----Original Message-----
From: arin-ppml-bounces at arin.net [mailto:arin-ppml-bounces at arin.net] On Behalf Of John Santos
Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2009 6:14 PM
To: Martin Hannigan
Cc: arin-ppml at arin.net
Subject: Re: [arin-ppml] Policy Proposal (Global): Allocation of IPv4 Blocks to Regional Internet Registries - Revised


Maybe I just didn't read this closely enough, but I don't see where it actually *requires* an RIR to return returned address space to the IANA.

As far as I can tell, every 6 months, an RIR returns *surplus* address space (presumably acquired from returned V4 blocks) to IANA which can then be delegated to other RIRs.  There didn't seem to be any criteria for determining what's "surplus".  Does the RIR just decide it now has more than it will need in the forseeable future and elect to return it so other RIRs can use it?  Is there no mechanism currently in place to do that?  Is the idea here just that after widespread IPv6 adoption, lots of v4 space will get returned, mostly to ARIN since ARIN has the most space, and there may still be pent up demand for it in other regions.  For example, a lot of poorer countries may be adopting internets based on old, obsolete tech that they can acquire cheap on the used market, but doesn't do IPv6.  This would give them a mechanism to acquire abandoned v4 addresses (indirectly) from ARIN.

If this is *all* this policy is intended to accomplish, then fine.
If an RIR is *required* to return returned addresses to IANA despite ongoing need within that RIR, then this is just busy work, since they'll immediately have to turn around and get more, probably different addresses back from IANA and causing bureaucratic delays and routing churn, since the addresses will go right back to the RIRs with the most demand.

--
John Santos
Evans Griffiths & Hart, Inc.
781-861-0670 ext 539