[arin-ppml] ARIN-2025-4: Resource Issuance to Natural Persons -- Request for Feedback

[Martin Hannigan]

On Wed, Jul 16, 2025 at 10:27 AM William Herrin <bill at herrin.us> wrote:
>
> On Wed, Jul 16, 2025 at 6:40 AM Martin Hannigan <hannigan at gmail.com>
wrote:
> > This seems like a distraction. Feel free to come to Boston and visit
> > the City Clerk's office to register your DBA and watch what happens.
>
> Hi Martin,
>
> Why would I? In Massachusetts, starting a sole proprietorship in one's
> own name requires no government registration. You only register
> anything if you want a fictitious name (a "Doing Business As"). If an
> individual in Massachusetts wants to register for ARIN resources, they
> identify themselves to ARIN as "Their Name, Sole Proprietorship." It's
> that simple.


>
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/starting-a-sole-proprietorship-in-massachusetts

Hi Bill,

You missed a small detail: “You’ll file your business certificate in the
city or town where your business is located.” (source)

In practice, the DBA registration and sole proprietorship setup are handled
through the same process.
For example, here’s Boston’s form:
https://www.boston.gov/sites/default/files/file/2025/03/2025-New-Business-Certificate-Form_0.pdf


You wouldn't know this unless you actually went to the City Clerk’s office
or called it and then filed it yourself. The process cost $35 and about two
hours(there was a validity question regarding the DBA name FOR the business
certificate).

The outcome? A registration entry that required full verification of both
my identity (government-issued ID) and my business (proof of lease, home
address, etc.). The benefit is the public can hold me or my DBA accountable
in the event of a civil or other question. The same as having something
like a Delaware corporation where a registered agent is also required -
much more expensive.

I’d wager ARIN spends significantly more than $35 verifying that level of
detail and it's hard to argue this amounts to an egregious level of harm to
gain use of ARIN resources.

YMMV,

Martin
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