ACSP Consultation 2018.4: Expanding the Size of the ARIN Board of Trustees

Consultation Tracking Information

  • Requested By: Board of Trustees
  • Status: Closed
  • Comments Opened: Linked to Discussion Archives: 06 April 2018
  • Comments Closed: 14 May 2018
  • Suggestion Number: n/a

Consultation Description

In May 2017, the ARIN Board of Trustees proposed expansion of the size of the Board of Trustees in order to increase opportunities for diversity in the background of Board members, including geographical and gender representation. This proposal was the topic of an energetic community consultation with mixed outcome indicating both support and concerns with such a change. The ARIN Board considered the outcome of the consultation, but ultimately the measure did not achieve the four-fifths approval threshold necessary for changing ARIN’s Bylaws.

In February of this year, the ARIN Board discussed an additional issue related to the present size of the Board: specifically, the challenge that a smaller Board poses when engaging in strategic discussions, for example in regard to long-term direction or relationships with other Internet organizations. While many of these topics are discussed with the community prior to decision (e.g. formation of the NRO, support for the IANA Stewardship Transition), it is often up to the ARIN Board of Trustees to decide whether to explore these initiatives when they are at an early stage. There is a very wide diversity of the Internet ecosystem that can be affected by ARIN’s strategic direction and this includes Internet service providers of all sizes and types (transit, access, etc.), Internet online and content industries, data center and cloud operators, educational and government networks, commercial firms, and civil society. While the Trustees elected by the community often have a broad knowledge of the Internet ecosystem, seven Trustees is a relatively small group to evaluate impacts across the entire Internet ecosystem.

As a result of this discussion, the ARIN Board agreed to initiate a new community consultation to expand the number of elected Board members from six to nine, in order to allow for wider representation of the Internet community during Board discussions.

Board proposal:

ARIN should add three more elected voting seats to the Board of Trustees, raising the current six (two elected per year) to nine (three elected per year). New Board seats are to be added to the Board in a phased manner – one per year in the 2018 thru 2020 elections as noted below

  • October 2018: 3 Board members will be elected for 2019; 8 Trustee board (9 if the appointed seat is used)
  • October 2019: 3 Board members will be elected for 2020; 9 Trustee board (10 if the appointed seat is used)
  • October 2020: 3 Board members will be elected for 2021; 10 Trustee board (11 if the appointed seat is used)

The link to the proposed Bylaws amendment necessary to effect such a change can be viewed at: https://www.arin.net/vault/about_us/bot/20180216/exhibit_e.pdf

We are seeking community feedback on this proposed change to the size of the ARIN Board of Trustees. This consultation will remain open for at least 30 days.

Please provide comments to arin-consult@arin.net. You can subscribe to this mailing list at: http://lists.arin.net/mailman/listinfo/arin-consult.

Discussion on arin-consult@arin.net will close on 14 May 2018.

If you have any questions, please contact us at info@arin.net.

ARIN Actions

On 9 April, the Consultation on Board Size was amended to include the link to the proposed Bylaws amendment necessary to effect the proposed change: https://www.arin.net/vault/about_us/bot/20180216/exhibit_e.pdf

Closing statement: ARIN thanks those who provided valuable feedback during this consultation expanding the size of the ARIN Board. This important feedback will be considered by the Board in their future deliberations on this matter.

Related