NSF press release regarding ARIN is at www.nsf.gov

[Nicholas Lordi Jr]

Text follows, the original source is at:
http://www.nsf.gov/od/lpa/news/press/pr9746.htm

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June 24, 1997

NSF PR 97-46

Media contact:

Beth Gaston
(703) 306-1070/egaston at nsf.gov

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INTERNET MOVES TOWARD PRIVATIZATION

IP NUMBERS HANDLED BY NON-PROFIT

The National Science Foundation (NSF) announced today an action that moves
the Internet toward privatization. Internet Protocol number assignments will
soon be handled by a non-profit organization.

The NSF has approved a plan from Network Solutions, Inc. (NSI) which
establishes the American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN). Under the
plan, ARIN would assume full responsibility for Internet Protocol (IP)
number assignments and related administrative tasks previously handled by
NSI. The shift, expected to be fully implemented before March 1998,
separates the assignment of Internet numbers (addresses) used for Internet
routing from domain name registration activities (which will continue to be
handled by Network Solutions). The move will affect only a relatively small
number of Internet service providers and very large institutional users --
around 300 last year -- who obtain their IP assignments directly from NSI.
Most Internet users will be unaffected by the change and most Internet
service providers will continue to obtain their IP assignments from their
providers.

The creation of ARIN is consistent with the recommendations received from
the Internet community at workshops over the past eighteen months, and with
concurrence from a federal interagency working group.

"This move is another step by the federal government in the continuing
privatization and commercialization of the Internet," said George Strawn,
director of the Networking and Communications Research and Infrastructure
division at NSF. "The Internet is no longer in its infancy. It is growing up
into a commercially based, self-regulating entity. NSI should be lauded for
aiding this transition."

The establishment of ARIN is important for the continued growth and the
global stability of the Internet, Strawn said. ARIN is patterned after the
successful RIPENIC and APNIC registration activities in Europe and Asia.
Regional registries are also being created by providers in Latin America and
Africa to assume responsibility for IP number assignment in those areas. It
is anticipated that before long, a global council of the regional registries
may work together to determine consistent and equitable global policies for
IP allocation and management.

The creation of ARIN will not change any current policies or procedures for
obtaining Internet numbers. Creation of ARIN will give the users of IP
numbers (mostly Internet service providers, corporations and other large
institutions) a voice in the policies by which they are managed and
allocated within the North American region.

ARIN is intended to provide Internet service providers in North America an
opportunity to help develop Internet management policies within the region
and, through ARIN's collaboration with other regional registries, globally.

                                    -NSF-

Editors: More information about ARIN, see: http://www.arin.net

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