Dear SIG members

Version two of the proposal "IPv4 countdown policy proposal" has been sent to the Policy SIG for review. It will be presented at the Policy SIG at APNIC 24 in New Delhi, India, 29 August - 7 September 2007.

I invite you all to review the proposal below and send comments to the mailing list before APNIC 24.

The proposal's history can be found at:

http://www.apnic.net/policy/proposals/prop-046-v002.html

Regards --- Toshiyuki Hosaka Policy SIG Chair

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prop-046-v002: IPv4 countdown policy ________________________________________________________________________

Author: JPNIC IPv4 countdown policy team Akinori MAEMURA Akira NANAGAWA Izumi OKUTANI Kosuke ITO Kuniaki KONDO Shuji NAKAMURA Susumu SATO Takashi ARANO Tomohiro FUJISAKI Tomoya YOSHIDA Toshiyuki HOSAKA

Version: 2

Date: 6 August 2007

1. Introduction ----------------

The exhaustion of IPv4 address space is projected to take place within the next few years. This proposal seeks to focus on measures that should be taken globally in the address management area in order to prepare for the situation in all RIR regions. Policy measures that require considerations within the Asia Pacific region are reviewed in a separate discussions paper.

2. Summary of current problem ------------------------------

1) Continue applying a global coordinated policy for distribution of the last piece(s) of RIR's unallocated address block does not match the reality of the situation in each RIR region.

Issues each RIR region will face during the exhaustion period vary by region as the level of development of IPv4 and IPv6 are widely different. As a result, applying a global co-ordinated policy may not adequately address issues in a certain region while it could be work for the others.

For example, in a region where late comers desperately need even small blocks of IPv4 addresses to access to the IPv4 Internet, a policy that defines the target of allocations/assignments of IPv4 address space to be late comers would be appropriate in such region. This would allow availablilty of IPv4 address space for such requirements for more years.

Another example comes from difference in IPv6 deployment rate. For a region where IPv6 deployment rate is low, measures may be necessary to prolong IPv4 address life for the existing business as well as for new businesses until networks are IPv6 ready. Some regions may have strong needs to secure IPv4 address space for translators.

A globally coordinated policy which addresses all the issues listed above to meet the needs for all RIR regions may result in not solving issues in any of the regions.

2) LIRs and stakeholders remain unprepared for the situation if they are not informed.

If LIRs and the community are uninformed of the exhaustion, their services and networks remain unprepared to face the situation at the time of exhaustion.

3. Situation in other RIRs ----------------------------

Version 1 of this proposal has been submitted to all RIRs for discussion. This version of the proposal, version 2, will also be submitted to all RIRs.

4. Details of the proposal ----------------------------

This proposal seeks to provide the following solutions to the problems listed above.

1) RIR community should be able to define their own regional policies on how to assign the last piece(s) of allocation block in order to address their own regional issues during the exhaustion period.

2) RIRs should provide official projection of the date when LIRs will be able to receive the allocations under the current criteria. The criteria should remain consistent until this date in order to avoid confusion.

The details of the proposal is as follows:

1) It should be completely left up to each RIR communities to define a regional policy on how to distribute the remaining RIR free pool to LIRs within their respective regions after "IANA Exhaustion Date".

- This will lead to solution 1)

- A policy during the exhaustion period within the AP region is discussed a separate discussion paper

Note 1: It is fine for an RIR to continue operations with the existing policy if that is the consensus decision of the respective RIR community.

Note 2: Address recovery and re-distribution of recovered address space is another important measure for considerations, but should be treated as a separate policy proposal from distribution of new IANA pool.

2) Distribute a single /8 to each RIR at the point when new IANA free pool hits 5 */8. This date is defined as "IANA Exhaustion Date".

- This will lead to solution 1)

- A single /8 is the minimum practical size of allocation from IANA to RIRs although smaller size is theoretically possible

- Larger allocation size is not desirable as it artificially fastens the exhaustion date of certain regions

3) RIRs should provide an official projection on IANA Exhaustion Date to the community through their website, at their Policy Meetings and through any other effective means.

- This will lead to solution 2)

- Although reliable projections by personal efforts are currently available, official projections provided RIRs help raise community awareness as well as helps ISP staff to convince their organization to prepare for the situation as a reliable source of information.

4) RIRs should maintain the current address distribution criteria until the date defined as "IANA Exhaustion Date".

- This will lead to solution 2)

5. Advantages and disadvantages of the proposal -------------------------------------------------

Advantages: - It allows each RIR community to define a policy on how to distribute the last piece(s) of allocations which best matches their situation.

- It helps LIR be better informed of the date when they are able to receive allocations from RIRs under the current criteria and prepare for the event.

Disadvantages:

- Concerns could be raised about allocating a fixed size to all RIRs, that it artificially fastens the consumption rate of some RIR regions. However, its impact is kept to minimum by keeping the allocation size to a single /8 which makes merely 3-4 months difference.

- Concerns could be raised that explicitly allowing regional policies will encourage RIR shopping. However, this should not happen if the requirements within each region is adequately reflected in each RIR's policy through PDP. RIR may also chose to add criteria to prevent LIRs from other regions submitting such requests.

6. Effect on APNIC members ----------------------------

APNIC members will be able to define a policy on how to distribute the last piece(s) of allocations which best matches the situation in AP region.

APNIC members will be better informed of the date when they are able to receive allocations from APNIC under the current criteria, through official information provided by APNIC/RIRs.

7. Effect on NIRs -------------------

The effect on APNIC members applies to members of NIRs. NIRs are therefore expected to inform their communities of the situation.

8. Additional reference -----------------------

This proposal should be read in conjunction with a discussion paper which reviews RIR to LIR allocation regional policy after the IANA exhaustion date in Asia Pacific region.

(end of document)