[arin-ppml] ARIN-prop-155 IPv4 Number Resources for Use Within Region

[David Farmer]

On 7/7/11 10:50 CDT, William Herrin wrote:
> On Thu, Jul 7, 2011 at 10:11 AM, Tony Hain<alh-ietf at tndh.net>  wrote:
>>>>> Each RIR is a facilitator in distributing IP addresses
>>>>> to networks and registries WITHIN that RIR's region.
>
>> I agree, events have overtaken us. The open question is how we break the
>> tendency to hoard in the face of famine. If we don't, the short term gain
>> will result in a long term loss of the self-regulatory model.
>
> A decade and a half ago, the principals behind APNIC made the case
> that the global address registry (then the InterNIC) should be
> replaced with a resource management model which follows geographic
> borders. We're operating on their plan. If there is a GLOBAL desire to
> return to a global registry model for any of our number resources,
> that proposal should come in the front door, not the back.

But, I think Tony makes a good argument, there was more of a 
facilitatory intent involved than exclusionary intent in the creation of 
the RIR system.  Things like; service desks in time zones close by, 
speaking languages used in the region, cultural understanding of the 
region, organizational governance from within the region, with meetings 
and other events in the region.  I believe these issues were far more 
important than drawing lines on a map.  It was about making things 
better, not about creating territorial monopolies.

> ARIN should not permit itself to become a defacto global registry
> through the expedient of turning a blind eye to outregion use of ARIN
> region addresses. As well invite the ITU in and join a competitive
> registry race to the bottom.
>
> I don't like Robert's specific proposal, but I completely agree with
> the concept. If we're going to remain regional in a world where IP
> addresses now have a significant dollar value, lets make sure we're
> actually being regional.

However, while the intent may have been facilitatory, we did draw lines 
on the map too.  We didn't necessarily have to, but we did.   However, 
in ICP-2 there is a clear intent that these lines should be at "large 
geographical region of approximately continental size"

Tony, is right that ICP-2 is an after-the-fact document, but this seems 
consistent with the vision of RFC1174;

	2.a.1.3.  Recommendation

	....

	At a later step, we anticipate that it will be desirable to
    	distribute the IR function among multiple centers, e.g., with centers
    	on different continents.  This should be straight-forward once the IR
    	function is divorced from policy enforcement.

And with the implementation plan in RFC 1366 and RFC 1466;

	2.0 Qualifications for Distributed Regional Registries

	.....

	The distributed regional registry is empowered by the IANA and the IR
	to provide the network number registration function to a geographic
	area.  It is possible for network subscribers to contact the IR
	directly.  Depending on the circumstances the network subscriber may
	be referred to the regional registry, but the IR will be prepared to
	service any network subscriber if necessary.

And with RFC 2050;

Regional IRs

       Regional IRs operate in large geopolitical regions such as
       continents.  Currently there are three regional IRs established;
       InterNIC serving North America, RIPE NCC serving Europe, and AP-
       NIC serving the Asian Pacific region.  Since this does not cover
       all areas, regional IRs also serve areas around its core service
       areas.  It is expected that the number of regional IRs will remain
       relatively small.  Service areas will be of continental
       dimensions.

In reading through all of this, the lines seem more fuzzy or fungible to 
me, more a matter of what is convenient than an immutable boundary.  So 
I tend to want to go with Tony's interpretation of these line as being 
of facilitatory in nature, rather than exclusionary in nature.  Or, put 
another way, the creation of the RIR system was about creating choices 
and option, not about limiting them.

So, this boils down to a simple question;  What is the meaning of those 
line on the map?  However, I believe that simple question has to be 
answered by global consensus, not by regional mandate.

-- 
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