[arin-ppml] Draft Policy 2009-2: Depleted IPv4 reserves

[Stephen Sprunk]

Martin Hannigan wrote:
>
>     *Policy statement:*
>
>     4.1.8 Depleted IPv4 reserves
>
>     A limit will be applied to all IPv4 address requests when ARIN's
>     reserve of unallocated IPv4 address space drops below an
>     equivalent /9. When this happens, an ISP or End User may receive
>     up to a single /20 within a six month period. This restriction
>     will be lifted in the event the reserve of unallocated IPv4
>     address space increases to an equivalent /7.
>
>
> This policy seems to impose exactly the same unfair application that 
> Counsel described in the summary for global policy for returning v4 
> space to the IANA[3]. Creating equal shares only means that equal 
> allocations occur. It still creates a severe need imbalance and 
> potentially creates an unfair advantage for smaller players that a /20 
> does fulfill their needs.

I can see why you'd think that, but I'll take an actual lawyer's opinion 
on that topic.  Per the email from Member Services that started this thread:

"B. ARIN General Counsel Comments:

The policy does not pose any significant legal risk to ARIN. A community 
decision to segment the remaining unissued IPV4 numbers to serve a 
larger number of users on its face does not discriminate against or for 
any user, large or small. Therefore it is legally unobjectionable. It is 
a rational scheme for distribution reasonably related to meeting the 
needs of as many end users as possible. Counsel respectfully suggests 
that the policy as drafted may contain potential seeds of confusion by 
providing for switching back to current distribution policies, and then 
back to this policy."

S

-- 
Stephen Sprunk         "God does not play dice."  --Albert Einstein
CCIE #3723         "God is an inveterate gambler, and He throws the
K5SSS        dice at every possible opportunity." --Stephen Hawking

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