[arin-ppml] ARIN-PPML Digest, Vol 254, Issue 2

[Quantum]

Hi Eddie,

On 2026/8/3 23:09, Eddie Stauble via ARIN-PPML wrote:
> As an IPv4 broker, I run into several cases per year where a small company
> is based in the US but has a branch office elsewhere in the world.  They
> have a /24 for BGP here in the US, and want to do the same in the UK.  Under
> existing policy, they cannot use their need in the UK for justification
> since they have less than a /22 in region.  So they end up going to RIPE.
> They would rather just keep it all in ARIN.  This proposal would allow them
> to do that.

What I am struggling to understand is why this is a problem only for 
users of IPv4 brokers and not users of the IPv4 waiting list. If the 
same small company wanted to use the ARIN waiting list instead of 
purchasing IPv4 space from you, they would run into the exact same problem.

> The waiting list should be used for those who have a need in the ARIN
> region.

It is not clear to me why this should be the case. In my opinion, if 
using space out-of-region is something that ARIN permits, then it should 
be permitted for all ARIN members. I don't believe ARIN membership 
should be divided into two separate classes: those who use IPv4 brokers, 
and those who use the waiting list, with the former allowed to get space 
for out-of-region uses and the latter prohibited from doing so. I don't 
believe this is good for the health of the ARIN community.

Furthermore, if ARIN waiting list space is to be reserved for in-region 
use exclusively, then section 8.3 transfers becomes a loophole. One 
could obtain space under the ARIN waiting list, wait 60 months for the 
prohibition against transfer under section 4.1.8 to expire, and then 
transfer the space under section 8.3 to another ARIN member, who is 
suddenly allowed to use it out-of-region. I don't think this creates the 
right incentives.

Under the current proposal, ARIN would also be forced to track whether a 
specific block is permitted to be used out-of-region and which ones 
aren't, based on how the member received the space. If we wish to plug 
the aforementioned section 8.3 loophole by allowing the out-of-region 
ban to carry over after a transfer, ARIN would be forced to do even more 
bookkeeping. A question for ARIN staff is whether this is something they 
can reasonably do, and whether it makes sense for ARIN to police this.

In my opinion, draft policy ARIN-2025-3 should either permit 
out-of-region use with a single IPv4 /24 in region for everyone, or be 
abandoned outright. If the concern is the waiting list being abused, 
then I suggest we institute some other requirement that applies equally 
to all members, regardless of whether they get space from section 4.1.8 
or section 8.

Best regards,
Quantum
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