[arin-ppml] ARIN Multiple Discrete Networks Policy

[Richard A Steenbergen]

On Thu, Sep 29, 2011 at 08:13:33PM +0000, John Curran wrote:
> I am a huge supporter of the principles in ICP-2, but we have a case 
> where the policy provides for allocation of space to a particular 
> configuration "Multiple Discrete Networks" with defining what makes 
> networks discrete.  That leaves ARIN staff having to determine based 
> on the stated examples and policy history.
> 
> If the community wants to clarify Multiple Discrete Networks so that 
> any ISP (as well as the overall routing tables) can benefit from 
> improved address block management, then it can make that policy 
> change, but recognize that is a new use for a policy originally 
> written for actual discrete networks.

I don't believe it is. There are two distinct issues here:

1) the definition of a discrete network, which could probably use some 
further clarification, but which as far as I'm concerned is a different 
topic.

2) the question of whether an applicant should be forced to demonstrate 
that they "can't" live without the MDN policy in order to use it (where 
being forced to "borrow from discrete network #1 to fill in discrete 
network #2" seems to be an acceptable solution, regardless of the impact 
to the global routing table).

My personal take on the matter is that ARIN is trying to enforce a new 
rule that has never been part of the MDN policy or previous applications 
of the policy, saying that if you "could" work around the need with 
deaggregates that you don't qualify. I believe that the vast majority of 
the existing MDN policy users "could" work around it with deaggregates 
today, and don't see why this question is suddenly being asked.

Per the last conversation with ARIN on this issue, I believe that the 
"you could solve it with deaggregates, so you don't qualify" issue was 
the only point being discussed.

-- 
Richard A Steenbergen <ras at e-gerbil.net>       http://www.e-gerbil.net/ras
GPG Key ID: 0xF8B12CBC (7535 7F59 8204 ED1F CC1C 53AF 4C41 5ECA F8B1 2CBC)