On Aug 18, 2011, at 5:13 PM, David Conrad wrote:
The nice thing about history is that it allows you to see exactly what mistakes people will keep repeating.
As evidenced by Paul's ACM article (which is amusing on many levels), I believe we're now in the phase where the incumbent monopolies and their supporters attempt to actively discourage use of new disruptive entrants.
David -
If the above statement is a reference to ARIN, then it is factually incorrect. ARIN's position on
evolving the Internet registry system is on record in our 2 March 2011 letter to Rod Beckstrom of
I note:
"Despite ARIN’s appropriate rejection of the Depository request, I would ask that ICANN carefully review the Depository correspondence and consider the issues it raises with respect to the evolution of the Internet number registry system. While ARIN
and the other Regional Internet Registries are obligated to follow the framework agreed to in ICP-2 and related guidelines such as the IETF’s RFC 2050, the structure of the Internet number registry system is substantially unchanged since inception. This stability
in design is certainly a valued feature given the instrumental role of the Internet number registry system in reliable Internet operations, but may not be the optimum structure in light of the many changes taking place in the Internet today (including IPv4 depletion
& IPv6 transition, internationalization of Internet multi-stakeholder oversight, and ongoing developments in cyber security.) ARIN would welcome an opportunity to participate in any and all discussions regarding how to best evolve the Internet number registry
system, and would consider ICANN instrumental in leading such discussions in forums globally as appropriate."
I understand that others may not actually research their statements with respect to
Internet governance matters, but please don't give credence to those remarks by not
verifying your facts first.
It is possible that discussion of introducing competition to the Internet Registry System
could lead to profound changes (e.g. multiple competing global registries, or central
registries in each region with multiple competing "registrars" , or a central registry system
and multiple globally operating "registrars") or perhaps it might result in no change at all.
It is not possible to know the output of a global discussion of these matters beforehand,
but by definition the Internet community is entitled to discussion of any and all structures
for this global system.
ARIN does not believe that any changes to the structure of the Internet registry system
should happen without first having corresponding global discussion, as the changes are
disruptive by their very nature and their introduction has global impact. If you have a
example where ARIN is somehow discouraging discussion of changes to the Internet
registry system, then please bring it directly to my attention, as we quite willing to evolve
as long as there is global multi-stakeholder discussion of the changes first, with a result
that reflects the public interest in this area.
Thank you,
/John
John Curran
President and CEO
ARIN