[arin-ppml] Draft Policy ARIN-2025-4: Resource Issuance to Natural Persons

[Joe Provo]

Hey folks,

In the past I've asked (in private and during open mic) regarding the
board's position as it contrasts to the reality of individual
registrations and was only met with statements to the effect that
"other RIRs' legal assessments are different than ours". At the time
there was no interest in collaboration on a policy with those I knew
who were affected, as they  just went to another RIR and got on with
their lives. So I'm very happy to see the issue being seriously
discussed.

Natural persons are now and have been registry shopping for ages; I 
personally know a non-trivial number and a search across other RIRs
for ARIN-region natural persons would be a useful data point for this
discussion. Whilst some have fun names, fig leaves or similar naming
as Owen has provided, a few checks of other RIRs would reveal some
information. [in RIPEdb: "ORG object 'org-name'" against
(("ORG Object admin-c target object 'person') || ("ORG Object tech-c
target object 'person')) as well as scrutinizing "ORG Object country
(US|CA|...)" notably when 'org-type' is OTHER]

Historically, our and other RIR communities have been concerned with
registry shopping as undermining the principles of ICP-2. Over the
decades, policies have been crafted in all RIRs to address observed
behaviors and reduce registry shopping. We have long been concerned
about ensuring ARIN is inclusive to all needs of the community. This
is merely another such proposal with the intent of knitting the
fabric of our community together.

Over the years, accuracy in the registry has driven many policy 
proposals and decisions. Today we are actively promoting inaccuracy
by encouraging current and prospective in-region resource holders
to not register with ARIN. This policy will correct that error.


In these threads I've seen zero harms presented by the proposal.
Current policies already cover businesses and non-profits
regardless of structure. Given this doesn't alter needs basis, the
text "acting in a capacity consistent with operating a network and
who meets ARIN's resource eligibility criteria" appears to be solid
guard rails. The staff and legal will be immensely useful and I
don't see how any further hair-splitting about types of natural 
persons would be useful prior to that assessment.

Let's give existing resources holders within the ARIN sphere the
opportunity to both migrate their existing resources to the ARIN
registry and remove obfuscation of the true actors behind resource
use. 

I strongly support the policy both in intent and current wording.

Cheers,

Joe

-- 
Posted from my personal account - see X-Disclaimer header.
Joe Provo / Gweep / Earthling