[arin-ppml] ARIN-prop-157 Section 8.3 Simplification

[David Farmer]

On 9/21/11 10:29 CDT, ARIN wrote:
....
> ARIN-prop-157 Section 8.3 Simplification
>
> Proposal Originator: Martin Hannigan
>
> Proposal Version: 1.0
>
> Date: 21 SEP 2011
>
> Proposal type: modify
>
> Policy term: permanent
>
> Policy statement:
>
> Number resources within the ARIN region may be released to ARIN by an
> authorized resource holder for transfer to a qualified and specified
> recipient.
>
> Rationale:
>
> The original text was overly complex and imprecise. The modified
> language has been reduced to be clear with respect to allowing specified
> transfers of "number resources". The definition of "number resources" is
> any IPv4 address or addresses, IPV6 address or addresses or a 2 byte or
> 4 byte ASN individually or collectively.

I support the stated intent of allowing specified transfers for ASNs and 
IPv6 addresses.  However, I'm concerned that the text has been 
simplified too much.

First, with this text it is unclear to me what under what terms a 
recipient would be expected to qualify.  Must they demonstrate need 
according to current applicable policies necessary to otherwise receive 
such resources from ARIN?  Some other terms?  With no terms? But then 
why include the word "qualified".  The text "for transfer to a qualified 
and specified recipient", seems just a little too vague to me.

Also we need to think about if it is really necessary to have two 
separate general transfer policies, one for M&A and another for 
specified transfers, and what the actual differences between the two are 
and should be.  I'm not saying we don't need both, but if there are two, 
then there needs to be a clear and understandable difference between 
them and when they each should apply.

With the current specified transfer policy limited to IPv4 only there is 
a clear difference and reason for two separate policies.  That not a 
reason to keep things the way they are.  But, honestly with this 
proposed text, I'm not sure what the difference really is, and maybe it 
would be better to have a single unified transfer policy.

-- 
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David Farmer               Email:farmer at umn.edu
Networking & Telecommunication Services
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