Policy Proposal: Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) Policy for Allocation of ASN Blocks (ASNs) to Regional Internet Registries

[Member Services]

ARIN received the following policy proposal and is posting it to the
Public Policy Mailing List (PPML) in accordance with Policy Development
Process.

This proposal is in the first stage of the Policy Development Process.
ARIN staff will perform the Clarity and Understanding step. Staff does
not evaluate the proposal at this time, their goal is to make sure that
they understand the proposal and believe the community will as well.
Staff will report their results to the ARIN Advisory Council (AC) within
10 days.

The AC will review the proposal at their next regularly scheduled
meeting (if the period before the next regularly scheduled meeting is
less than 10 days, then the period may be extended to the subsequent
regularly scheduled meeting). The AC will decide how to utilize the
proposal and announce the decision to the PPML.

In the meantime, the AC invites everyone to comment on the proposal on
the PPML, particularly their support or non-support and the reasoning
behind their opinion. Such participation contributes to a thorough
vetting and provides important guidance to the AC in their deliberations.

The ARIN Policy Development Process can be found at:
https://www.arin.net/policy/pdp.html

Mailing list subscription information can be found
at:https://www.arin.net/mailing_lists/

Regards,

Member Services
American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN)


## * ##


Policy Proposal: Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) Policy for
Allocation of ASN Blocks (ASNs) to Regional Internet Registries

Proposal Originator: Stacy Hughes and Andrew de la Haye

Proposal Version: 1.0

Date: 29 May 2009

Proposal type: modify

Policy term: permanent

Policy statement:

Modification of NRPM section 10.3 extending the deadline for an
undifferentiated ASN pool by 1 year to read:

1. Allocation Principles

IANA allocates ASNs to RIRs in blocks of 1024 ASNs. In this document the
term "ASN block" refers to a set of 1024 ASNs. Until 31 December 2010,
allocations of 16-bit and 32-bit only ASN blocks will be made separately
and independent of each other [1].

This means until 31 December 2010, RIRs can receive two separate ASN
blocks, one for 16-bit ASNs and one for 32-bit only ASNs from the IANA
under this policy. After this date, IANA and the RIRs will cease to make
any distinction between 16-bit and 32-bit only ASNs, and will operate
ASN allocations from an undifferentiated 32-bit ASN allocation pool.

Rationale:

a. Arguments supporting the proposal

Due to operational issues external to the IANA/RIR policy process,
32-bit only ASNs are not being issued by the RIRs at the anticipated
rate. As it stands, RIRs will likely not be able to justify a new block
of ASNs from the IANA after 31 December 2009 due to a glut of free 32
bit only ASNs in the RIR’s pool. This leaves available, essential 16-bit
ASNs stranded in the IANA free pool. This proposal seeks to remedy the
potential problem by extending the deadline for differentiation by one
year.

With this proposal the policy will be aligned with the actual reality in
regards to 32-bit ASN deployment and usage.

The subject was raised during RIPE 58 and a presentation was made:
http://www.ripe.net/ripe/meetings/ripe-58/content/presentations/asn32-take-up-report.pdf

The feedback in this session suggested that a global policy proposal
should be developed and should be discussed.

b. Arguments opposing the proposal

Some may think that extending the previously set timeline can be
perceived as some discouragement for the deployment of 32-bit ASNs. One
counter argument to this is that RIRs and Internet community have some
other mechanisms and activities to raise awareness for 32-bit ASN pool
(via public presentations and trainings). These activities will continue
while 16-bit ASN blocks are still allocated to RIRs by the IANA as they
are available and they are needed.

Timetable for implementation: Immediately upon ratification by ICANN Board