[arin-ppml] ARIN Multiple Discrete Networks Policy

[John Curran]

On Oct 1, 2011, at 8:58 AM, Jimmy Hess wrote:

> I do not see a change required in the MDN policy.  ARIN staff should
> apply the policy as written not make a determination that the
> applicant "Doesn't NEED" to use a certain policy;  if the applicant
> WANTs to apply the policy, when they meet the stated criteria for the
> policy, and their application of the policy is reasonable, they should
> be allowed to do so.

Agreed, and this is the case.

> If the MDN policy is available, and the applicant meets all the
> criteria in the MDN policy, the applicant should be eligible to the
> allocation of discrete networks under the policy,
> specifically:
> 
> '"well yes technically I could always just break up my single ARIN
> allocation into a bunch of individual /24s for use by each discrete
> network" '
> 
> Is not a valid reasoning to refuse to apply the MDN policy;  the MDN
> policy doesn't contain any statement that allows ARIN staff to refuse
> to apply it for that reason alone.

Also agreed.

> A valid reasoning for refusing to apply the MDN policy would be one of
> the following:
> 
> 1. The organization is actually a group or consortium of multiple entities.
> 2. The organization does not have a satisfactorily compelling criteria
> for creating multiple discrete networks.
> ...

Reason #2 is the difficulty, whereas ARIN staff has to effectively make a 
judgement of the "compelling" criteria based on 3 illustrative examples.  
I recommend that the policy be so that there is a clear technical definition 
of "discrete network" is added to the policy, and further that any organization 
which has multiple "discrete networks" would qualify for use of the policy, 
regardless of the compelling or otherwise reasoning behind their architectural
decision.

Thanks!
/John

John Curran
President and CEO
ARIN