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NIR meeting at APRICOT (II)
Dear NIR member,
I have appended below, the text of a second discussion document for the
NIR meeting at APRICOT. This refers to agenda item number 4c) "What is an
NIR?" as circulated by Seung Min Lee (27th January).
Please read this document carefully before the meeting so that you are
able to comment on the suggestions made here.
Again, I should emphasise that this represents a set of ideas from APNIC
- this document was derived from a document describing criteria for new
RIRs and is a basis for discussion. We are very keen to have your feedback
and ideas, so that we can work together to provide a clear framework for
new NIRs.
Look forward to meeting you in Seoul.
Best wishes,
Anne
Manager, Member Services.
-------------------------
DISCUSSION DOCUMENT
Criteria for the establishment of new National Internet Registries in the
APNIC region
DRAFT v1.1
Abstract
This document proposes a number of criteria that could be considered
essential in the formation of new National Internet Registries (NIRs). It
is suggested that these are an essential set of standards that all new NIRs
will implement and follow. It is proposed that existing NIRs use this as a
guideline document when undergoing organisational change. In the longer
term, it is anticipated that all NIRs will follow the same set of guiding
principles.
The document is derived from a draft document describing criteria for the
establishment of new RIRs. It is anticipated that APNIC and the existing
NIRs can use their shared and individual experiences to refine these
criteria through discussion.
Introduction
Internet resources (such as IP addresses and Autonomous System numbers) are
currently distributed through a structure of delegated Internet registry
responsibility. IANA allocates address space to APNIC, as a Regional
Internet Registry (RIR). Address space is further allocated by APNIC to
either NIRs or to Local Internet Registries (LIRs). While the latter assign
addresses to end-users, the NIRs fulfil functions largely identical to
those of an RIR with responsibility for managing address space allocations
to LIRs within a particular country.
NIRs have long existed within the APNIC structure and fulfil an important
role in distributing address space to organisations within the boundaries
of their respective countries. NIRs reflect the need for procedures that
take account of local cultural differences. However it is important to note
that neutrality, fairness, and equitable application of APNIC's policy
framework remain essential qualities.
The registry system is well established has been developed with the
community of Internet Service Providers and other enterprises that requires
address space to operate their businesses. It has evolved over the past 10
years and is based on structures and procedures that are transparent and
firmly established.
The list below shows the existing NIRs and the countries for which they
provide services:
TWNIC - Taiwan
CNNIC - China
KRNIC - Korea
JPNIC - Japan
APJII - Indonesia
This document proposes a number of criteria necessary for the
establishment and operation of an NIR. These criteria could be considered
essential preconditions for the approval of new NIRs by APNIC. These
provide APNIC with the a set of guidelines for evaluating applications for
new NIRs.
Principles
The following numbered list is not meant to imply that any one standard is
more important than another - they are all equally important for NIR
operations. The numbering serves only to facilitate reading.
1) The region of coverage is that of a particular country only
The proposed NIR must operate within the borders of a particular country.
In this country only one NIR can be established. Multiple NIRs or could
possibly lead to:
- fragmentation of address space
- competition between NIRs
- difficulty for co-ordination and co-operation between the NIRs
- confusion for the community within the country
2) The new NIR must demonstrate that it has the broad support of any
existing LIRs and the ISP community in the proposed country.
Clear consensus must be demonstrated within the community that the vast
majority of the ISPs and LIRs in the country are prepared to support the
new NIR. The community must state that it is interested in receiving
services from this new NIR and that they are convinced the new NIR can and
will provide this. The community must also show that it is willing to
support this new NIR vigorously, not only with their active participation
in its bottom-up development but also financially.
The new NIR must show that it has made every effort to contact and convince
existing LIRs in their region to give their support to the establishment of
a new NIR in that region has been made (For example, by way of archives of
public mailing lists, web sites, records of contacts with individual LIRs).
The new NIR's membership must include a significant percentage of the
existing LIRs (those already receiving IP address registration services
and/or other related services from an RIR and that would receive IP address
registration services and/or other related services from the new NIR)
within the new NIR's region of coverage.
It is preferable that the entire country should be served by the new NIR.
Therefore, the new NIR's membership should include a significant percentage
of the ISPs within the NIR's country. However, new and existing LIRs cannot
be forced to go to the new NIR and may receive service from APNIC, if
preferred. However APNIC will always refer applications for membership from
organisations served by NIRs to the the NIR.
3) Bottom-up self governance structure for setting local policies
The new NIR needs to document clearly defined procedures for the
development of local IP address allocation and assignment policies. These
procedures most be open and transparent and accessible to all interested
parties and ensure fair representation of all constituencies within the region.
These procedures should include holding at least one annual policy
development meeting that is open and accessible to all interested parties.
In addition to public meetings, the new NIR needs to maintain public
archived mailing lists to discuss policy development.
4) Neutrality and impartiality to all interested parties
All organisations that receive service from the new NIR must be treated
equitably. The policies and guidelines proposed and implemented by the NIR
need to ensure fair distribution of address space and impartial treatment
of the members/requestors.
The new NIR should be established as an independent, not-for-profit, open
membership-based association.
5) Technical expertise
The new NIR must be technically capable of providing registration services
to the community in the country. This includes:
- stable Internet connectivity within the country and internationally;
- a public whois database server;
- name servers' providing in-addr.arpa reverse DNS, and
- enough technically capable staff to ensure appropriate service levels to
the LIRs.
6) Adherence to global policies regarding address space
conservation, aggregation, and registration
Policies need to be in place to ensure that global and RIR policies can be
implemented. The specific goals of the registry system are the conservation
of IP address space and aggregation of routing information. As well, local
policies that are developed in addition to established global policies need
to guarantee these goals. All policies need to be documented and publicly
accessible.
7) Funding model
The NIR needs to be set up as not-for-profit association. A budget related
to the activity plan must be drawn up and published. Clear support from
the organisations that will eventually have to fund the activity plan must
be shown.
Initial sponsorship, government grants, and private grants and/or donations
are acceptable but the NIR should operate independently and eventually be
solely financially supported by its membership.
8) Record Keeping
NIRs must maintain proper records about all registry activities. Every NIR
should keep all information collected from the LIRs in the process of
making a request for an IP address space allocation. This data is needed
for the evaluation of subsequent requests for the same customers, for
audits by the RIR and IANA and for the resolution of any questions that may
arise regarding allocations.
Core documents and records should be available in English. This is
necessary to be consistent with the existing registry system and to
communicate with the existing RIRs and IANA.
In addition to that all public documentation needs to be available in
English.
9) Confidentiality
Information collected by a NIR in the registration process must be kept in
strict confidence and it must be protected by a confidentiality policy at
least equivalent to that adopted by the RIR. It is to be used for
registration purposes only. It must be transmitted only to another RIR or
IANA in demonstrating address space usage but will not be transmitted to
any other party unless explicitly agreed to in writing by the end user.
