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

[Owen DeLong]

> On Dec 14, 2023, at 14:45, John Curran <jcurran at arin.net> wrote:
> 
> 
>> On Dec 14, 2023, at 4:34 PM, Owen DeLong <owen at delong.com> wrote:
>> 
>> Does this mean that ARIN will issue IPv6 to LIR requests with a stated intent to go into the IP resource management business separate from providing connectivity services?
> 
> Owen - 
> 
> That may come down to any distinction between “connectivity” versus “network” services…   to the extent there is ambiguity in number resource policy, ARIN tries to work with the requesters to get their request for resources _approved_ to the extent that it can be done within the expressed language and intent of the number resource policy as written. 
> 
> Per NRPM section 2.4, a "Local Internet Registry (LIR)" is an IR that primarily assigns IP addresses to the users of the “network services" that it provides.   It’s also noted that "LIRs are generally Internet Service Providers (ISPs)", but that clearly leaves open that possibility that some LIRs are not ISPs. 
> 
> I am fairly clear what constitutes an ISP and/or a provider of connectivity services, but what services constitute network services?  
> 
> Does that include an IR that provides VPN/tunnel services?  Companies that provide network monitoring services?  CDN providers?  Networks providing DDoS Mitigation services?  Firms that provide IP address management services, including monitoring of one’s routing/IRR/RPKI/geolocation/rDNS status and leasing of IP address space?  SAAS operations that provide network configuration, monitoring, and IP address management?   
> 
> Or perhaps “all of the above except for those IR’s that _only_ provide IP address management services” to their customers?
> 
> Once we step away from ISPs providing connectivity services, things because very fluid and rather quickly. 
> 
> Note - the inherent flexibility of the term “IR” may not be problem what it comes to IPv6, but has obviously has some potential for interesting consequences for IPv4 administration. 

Right, so in terms of staff interpretation, what would be done with a request for IPv6 resources in each of those scenarios if it arrived today?

>> Unless the answer to that question is yes, then I think the correct fix is to explicitly add the appropriate limitation to the definition of LIR, which is likely editorial since it wouldn’t change staff interpretation of the policy. If the answer to that question is yes, then we do, indeed, have an (at least to me) unexpected divergence between current IPv4 and IPv6 policy and I think the community needs to make a decision on whether we wish to continue to permit IPv6 to be handed out to “Address Management Services”.
> 
> Indeterminate - see above regarding companies providing “network services” (feel free provide any insight based on your understanding of policy intent.) 

The policy intent was definitely to cover all of the above except address management only. (i.e. all infrastructure based forms of network services). (At least that was the author’s intent when I wrote the policy).

>> I care not whether this change ends up editorial or not, my focus is on identifying the correct changes to NRPM to get to the desired result (and, for that matter, if there is a discrepancy between the interpretation being applied to IPv6 policy and IPv4 policy, whether or not the community wishes to continue that difference or which direction to go).
>> 
>> In general, I personally favor prohibiting “Address Management Services” without connectivity.
> 
> Policy proposals are relatively easy to submit if you wish to make NRPM clearer in any manner. 

I’m sure you are well aware that I am quite familiar with the PDP and how to submit a proposal. ;-)

Nonetheless, I’d like to see clearer answers to the questions you keep side-stepping and further community comment on which way the community as a whole wants to go on the issue.

I don’t mind writing a policy proposal, it certainly won’t be my first, but I think it’s reasonable to first try to get a sense of what is likely to achieve support from the community and to get a firm stake in the ground as to where current policy actually stands.

Owen

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