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

[David Farmer]

On Wed, Jun 4, 2025 at 4:07 PM John Curran <jcurran at arin.net> wrote:

> David –
>
> Answers below, inline.
>
> > On Jun 4, 2025, at 11:48 AM, David Farmer <farmer at umn.edu> wrote:
> >
> > Thanks John,
> >
> > Some follow-up questions;
> >
> > 1. Is there a reassignment mechanism for ASNs? I'm not aware of one. A
> natural person not operating a business can obtain IP addresses from an
> ISP/LIR and expect them to be reassigned to them for their use. But how
> does a natural person not operating a business obtain an ASN for their use?
> This seems like a hole in the system.
>
> An ISP can request an ASN for their customer to use and create a ROA for
> it (or the customer can use private ASN if their ISP supports such.)
>

The problem with that is that if a natural person not operating a business
gets a detailed reassignment of address space, it shows up under their
OrgID, where they control the POCs. However, an ASN would currently have to
show up under their ISP's OrgID. The ISP could make them a resource POC for
the ASN, but it isn't quite the same. It also doesn't accurately
communicate how the ASN is being used from an operational perspective. If
ARIN wants to avoid natural persons not operating a business as direct
customers, providing a detailed reassignment type mechanism for ASNs is a
possible place to start for a compromise.


> > 2. If a natural person is not operating a business, and their only
> relationship to ARIN is indirectly through an ISP or LIR, what about
> portability, and what happens if the ISP/LIR goes bankrupt? If we do not
> allow a direct relationship between ARIN and natural persons not operating
> a business, then the system needs some mechanism to support ISP/LIR
> portability and protections for ISP/LIR bankruptcy.
>
> The number resources are issued to the ISP/LIR, not the individual, and
> control over the number resources remains with ISP even if
> reassigned/reallocated in registry.
>
> If the ISP/LIR goes bankrupt, the ISP's number resources are contractual
> rights that are treated as assets of their estate and handled according to
> standard bankruptcy procedures, subject to ARIN’s transfer policies.
>

This is where RIPE's Sponsoring LIR mechanism probably has some advantages.
It maintains the B2B business model between the RIR and the ISP/LIR, while
the ISP/LIR maintains the B2C relationship. The resources are maintained in
the end-user's name. The end-user can change their Sponsoring LIR, which
would likely happen in the case of LIR bankruptcy.

Would ARIN consider a Sponsoring LIR mechanism to provide resources to
natural persons not operating a business, while maintaining its B2B
business model?

Thanks.

-- 
===============================================
David Farmer               Email:farmer at umn.edu
Networking & Telecommunication Services
Office of Information Technology
University of Minnesota
2218 University Ave SE        Phone: 612-626-0815
Minneapolis, MN 55414-3029   Cell: 612-812-9952
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