[arin-ppml] Draft Policy ARIN-2017-8: Amend the definition of Community Network

[Chris Woodfield]

I’m not aware of at what point in time the Community Networks clause was originally added to the NRPM, but I’m betting it was a time where internet access was nowhere near as vital a service as it is today. Given that, it’s obvious that very few, if any, community networks could operate reliably without a certain amount of paid staff.

I would note that IMO the phrase “a large role” could be imprecise; If I were writing this policy, I'd choose a term such as “a predominant role” instead - still fuzzy, but substantially less so. Alternatively, the policy could require organizations to have an all-volunteer board of directors, but that may result in some organizations we’d otherwise consider clear beneficiaries of the policy being unable to do so (for example, academic networks).

Given the above, I support this policy as written. 

Thanks,

-Chris

> On Aug 22, 2017, at 12:39 PM, ARIN <info at arin.net> wrote:
> 
> On 17 August 2017 the ARIN Advisory Council (AC) advanced "ARIN-prop-243: Amend the Definition of Community Network" to Draft Policy status.
> 
> Draft Policy ARIN-2017-8 is below and can be found at:
> https://www.arin.net/policy/proposals/2017_8.html
> 
> You are encouraged to discuss all Draft Policies on PPML. The AC will evaluate the discussion in order to assess the conformance of this draft policy with ARIN's Principles of Internet number resource policy as stated in the Policy Development Process (PDP). Specifically, these principles are:
> 
> * Enabling Fair and Impartial Number Resource Administration
> * Technically Sound
> * Supported by the Community
> 
> The PDP can be found at:
> https://www.arin.net/policy/pdp.html
> 
> Draft Policies and Proposals under discussion can be found at:
> https://www.arin.net/policy/proposals/index.html
> 
> Regards,
> 
> Sean Hopkins
> Policy Analyst
> American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN)
> 
> 
> 
> Draft Policy ARIN-2017-8: Amend the Definition of Community Network
> 
> Problem Statement:
> 
> The Community Networks section of the NRPM has not been used since implementation in January 2010. Proposal ARIN-2016-7, to increase the number of use cases, was abandoned by the Advisory Council due to lack of feedback. Proposal ARIN 2017-2, to remove all mention of community networks from NRPM was met with opposition by the community. Many responded that the definition of “community network” was too narrow, which could be the reason for lack of uptake.
> 
> Policy statement:
> 
> CURRENT NRPM TEXT:
> 
> “2.11. Community Network
> 
> A community network is any network organized and operated by a volunteer group operating as or under the fiscal support of a nonprofit organization or university for the purpose of providing free or low-cost connectivity to the residents of their local service area. To be treated as a community network under ARIN policy, the applicant must certify to ARIN that the community network staff is 100% volunteers.”
> 
> NEW NRPM TEXT:
> 
> “2.11 Community Network
> 
> A community network is a network organized and operated by a volunteer group, not-for-profit, non-profit, charitable organization, or post-secondary institution for the purpose of providing free or low-cost connectivity to residents in their service area. Critical functions may be handled by paid staff, but volunteers play a large role in offering services available through community networks.”
> 
> Comments:
> 
> Timetable for implementation: Immediate
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