[arin-ppml] Sections 6.5.1.a and 6.5.1.b - More section 6 Potential simplifications from the NRPM Working Group

[John Curran]

On Dec 13, 2023, at 5:09 PM, Owen DeLong <owen at delong.com> wrote:

A Local Internet Registry (LIR) is an IR that primarily assigns IP addresses to the users _of the network services_ that it provides. LIRs are generally Internet Service Providers (ISPs) whose customers are primarily end users and possibly other ISPs.

As such, the question of interchangeability of the ”LIR” and “ISP” terms requires considering whether there is alignment in "the network services” that each provides.

I refer you to 6.5.1.a

I referred to the NRPM general definitions, rather than language of a specific policy section, ie Section 6 which defines IPv6 Policies for Allocations and Assignments”    The general applicability outside of that context is uncertain.

It is not appropriate to conclude that NRPM equates the terms, but rather that it only notes that "LIRS are generally ISPs.” –– i.e. the definition clearly envisions the possibility that some LIRs may not be ISPs; they may provide IP addresses to users, but that does not necessarily and automatically equate with "the provision of network services” such as the term Internet Service Providers encompasses.

I don’t conclude that, I read it in the text of the NRPM quoted above.

Certainly applicable policy language if you’re making an IPv6 request, otherwise indeterminate.

See above - alas, the NRPM does not presently call out the terms as equivalent but rather only notes that LIRs "are generally ISPs."

It doesn’t in section 2 where it defines LIR, but it does in 6.5.1.a as shown above.

Indeed - alas NRPM has to apply to more than IPv6, so at a minimum that definition should move to the general definitions, if the community intends such to be more widely applicable.

My point was that ARIN doesn’t apply those greater constraints and said assumption is actually problematic in that it may dissuade or confuse legitimate applicants.

Incorrect - As I indicated earlier, ARIN does consider the term “ISP” and provision of network services in its traditional context; ie, it “ remains applicable to issuance of IPv4 address space under NRPM 4.2 (Allocations to ISPs) as limited by 4.1.8 (ARIN Waitlist).  “

If the community wishes it to be otherwise (e.g. taking your IPv6 term definition language into consideration), that change should be made explicitly, and not as an incidental consequence of language cleanup.

Thanks! (And Happy Holidays!)
/John

John Curran
President and CEO
American Registry for Internet Numbers

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://lists.arin.net/pipermail/arin-ppml/attachments/20231213/3987277d/attachment.htm>