ARIN Proposal

[Karl Denninger]

>
> Michael D. Bathrick (prez at berkshire.net) wrote:
> > The pricing for this service MUST be brought down to a level that the
> > average 'mom & pop' ISP can deal with.  Else expect a major problem with
> > getting the folks you are regulating to co-operate.
>
> Perhaps it be useful to define some terms.  What, for example, is the
> average 'mom & pop' ISP?   Is it dual or multihomed?  Do they get their
> IP allocation directly from the 'Nic now?
>
> I'd offhand guess "No" to both questions;  if that's the case, they most
> likly are getting their blocks from an upstream provider instead of the
> NIC (or ARIN);  therefore, the fees do not apply to them;  there's nothing
> to deal with.
>
> But, perhaps you're concerned that the larger providers will pass along
> the costs;  they indeed may;  however, this is where the pricing models
> work to your favour;  a few class 'C' blocks - which is what I'd assume
> a 'Mom & Pop' might have work out to be fairly inexpensive when part of
> a much larger allocation.
>
> It would be useful if you explained, in detail, how the proposed fees will
> impact your business.  For example, share what a "typical" mom & pop would
> look like, if they are multihomed, where their current address blocks came
> from, and what they'll consume, address wise, in the next year or two.
>
> --
> Charles T. Smith, Jr.
> VecNet, Inc.     cts at vec.net
> Vice President, ISP/C

This is a non-starter.

ANY ISP which obtains non-portable blocks and then resells anything which
can't be instantly renumbered has a huge problem.

Let's look at the possible places you get "screwed":

1)      Static IP individual customers (I know that registries HATE this
        practice, but it really *IS* quite address-conservative if you
        do it right -- and for ISDN LAN-style connections it is the ONLY
        way you get interoperability with all hardware across the board!)

2)      Web servers.  Folks, try forcing all the DNS caches on the net to
        flush instantly.  Can't be done.  You WILL screw customers if you
        renumber their servers.  The depth of the "screwing" is not under
        your control, and will CERTAINLY by more than a full business day.
        You WILL lose customers over that event.

3)      Dedicated connections.  Go ahead.  Call your customers and tell
        them THEY have to renumber their LANs.  Try it once.  See how many
        customers you have left and how likely it is YOU get sued based
        on either a tort or equity claim.

You WILL lose a BOATLOAD of YOUR customers if you get boxed like this.  The
only option you have left as an ISP is to sue the people who are putting
you in the box.

The only way you can PREVENT having this happen with provider-based space is
to "marry" the company that has the block.  Now, do you really want to do
that?  Do you want to EVER be put in the position where you have a supplier
that you just CANNOT get rid of?  No matter what you do?

No businessperson in their right mind would accept this as a business
premise.

Therefore, every ISP must be an ARIN "associate" if they have an ounce of
sense, and they must be able to get those magic /19s (or larger if they can
justify them).

To fail to provide that on a *level* playing field is going to invite
lawsuits -- I'm talking SERIOUS lawsuits here -- not based on some trivial
matter, or to annoy, but multi-million lawsuits which are based on *HARD*
damages to companies and their customer base!

You'll see these suits by the hundreds, and the problem is that the eventual
effect of this will be the destruction of CIDR and provider-based addressing.

This is why we worked VERY hard to get Provider-Independant space when we
needed original space, maintain that stance through whatever process is
necessary today, and urge OTHERS to do so as well.  It is also why ARIN must
be *CAREFULLY* constructed to insure that it meets the essential need of NOT
interfering with normal business operations and vendor/supplier
relationships.  If it serves to tie INDIRECT customers to a given vendor,
not only will the vendors get sued but so will ARIN and its board -- and
THAT eventuality is a very un-good thing.

--
--
Karl Denninger (karl at MCS.Net)| MCSNet - The Finest Internet Connectivity
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