Recommended Draft Policy ARIN-2019-1 [Archived]

Clarify Section 4 IPv4 Request Requirements

Status: Implemented 22 September 2020 Shepherds: Kat Hunter, Amy Potter

Current Text (18 May 2020)

AC Assessment of Conformance with the Principles of Internet Number Resource Policy:

This Draft Policy is is fair, impartial, and technically sound. This draft policy is an attempt to clarify the waiting period to only prohibit requests for IPv4 allocations under Section 4 of the NRPM. Additionally, it disallows organizations that have transferred space to other parties within the past 36 months from applying for additional IPv4 space under NRPM Section 4.

Problem Statement:

Per a recent ARIN Policy Experience Report and resulting AC discussion, it was noted that the language of Section 4.1.8 is imprecise in that it can be interpreted as specifying a waiting period for any allocation activity, as opposed to being intended to limit only the frequency of IPv4 allocations under Section 4.

The same Policy Experience Report also noted that ARIN staff has observed a pattern where an organization transfers space under NRPM Section 8.2 to a specified recipient, and then immediately applies for space under Section 4. This activity appears to be speculative in nature and not consistent with sound address management policy.

The updated language in this proposal addresses the two issues above, as both concerns can be addressed via modifications to the same section and sentence thereof of the NRPM:

• Clarifies the waiting period to only prohibit requests for IPv4 allocations under Section 4 of the NRPM
• Disallows organizations that have transferred space to other parties within the past 36 months from applying for additional IPv4 space under NRPM Section 4.

Policy Statement

Current language found in NRPM Section 4.1.8 - Unmet Requests:

Repeated requests, in a manner that would circumvent 4.1.6, are not allowed: an organization currently on the waitlist must wait 90 days after receiving a distribution from the waitlist before applying for additional space. ARIN, at its sole discretion, may waive this requirement if the requester can document a change in circumstances since their last request that could not have been reasonably foreseen at the time of the original request, and which now justifies additional space. Qualified requesters will also be advised of the availability of the transfer mechanism in section 8.3 as an alternative mechanism to obtain IPv4 addresses.

Proposed new language 4.1.8:

Multiple requests are not allowed: an organization currently on the waitlist must wait 90 days after receiving a distribution from the waitlist or IPv4 number resources as a recipient of any transfer before applying for additional space. ARIN, at its sole discretion, may waive this requirement if the requester can document a change in circumstances since their last request that could not have been reasonably foreseen at the time of the original request, and which now justifies additional space. Qualified requesters will also be advised of the availability of the transfer mechanism in section 8.3 as an alternative mechanism to obtain IPv4 addresses.

Restrictions apply for entities who have conducted recent resource transfers. These restrictions are specified in Section 8 for each relevant transfer category.

Add the following under 8.2. Mergers, Acquisitions, and Reorganizations:

An organization which serves as the source of an 8.2 IPv4 transfer will not be allowed to apply for IPv4 address space under section 4.1.8 ARIN Waitlist for a period of 36 months following said transfer unless the recipient organization remains a subsidiary, parent company, or under common ownership with the source organization.

Add the following under 8.3. Transfers Between Specified Recipients Within the ARIN Region and under the Conditions on the source of the transfer:

The source entity will not be allowed to apply for IPv4 address space under Section 4.1.8. ARIN Waitlist for a period of 36 months following the transfer of IPv4 address resources to another party.

Under conditions on the recipient:

If applicable the recipient will be removed from the ARIN Waitlist and will not be allowed to reapply under section 4.1.8. ARIN Waitlist for a period of 90 days.

Add the following under 8.4. Transfers Between Specified Recipients Within the ARIN Region and under the Conditions on the source of the transfer:

The source entity will not be allowed to apply for IPv4 address space under Section 4.1.8. ARIN Waitlist for a period of 36 months following the transfer of IPv4 address resources to another party.

Under conditions on the recipient:

If applicable the recipient will be removed from the ARIN Waitlist and will not be allowed to reapply under section 4.1.8. ARIN Waitlist for a period of 90 days.

Add:

8.6 Wait List Restrictions

Any organization which is on the wait list and submits a request to be the source of a transfer under any provision in section 8 will be removed from the wait list.

Timeline for Implementation:

Immediate

Comments:

This proposal incorporates two related policy goals, combined for convenience in one proposal as both can addressed via modification of the same section and sentence of the NRPM. During ARIN 43 it was proposed to the community that the two policy statements were severable, however, there was sufficient community support behind keeping both.

There have been updates to section 4 since the beginning of the work on this policy. Text has been updated to reflect current NRPM.

There was significant community support to change the word “repeated” as it was vague. Additionally, there was concerned that a company may perform an M&A transfer to itself/parent company and the original proposed language would exclude those companies from being able to apply to the waitlist. After the addition of the new merger and acquisition language, staff and legal recommended that the restrictions for applying to the waitlist for participants of the transfer market be added to the appropriate section in the Section 8 of the NRPM. Organizations should be informed of how their activities in the transfer market will impact them in reference to applying to the waitlist. These changes were to make it easier for staff and the community to understand these requirements.

Staff and Legal Review (5 June 2020)

Summary (Staff Understanding)

ARIN-2019-1 would restrict organizations that are involved in 8.2, 8.3, and 8.4 transfers from applying for IP addresses from the ARIN Waitlist for specific time periods. Specifically it adds a 36-month restriction for source organizations, and 90-day restrictions for 8.3 and 8.4 recipient organizations. Additionally, it specifies that 8.3/8.4 recipient organizations and 8.2/8.3/8.4 source organizations will have any current ARIN Waitlist requests removed.

Comments

ARIN Staff Comments

The text is clear and understandable, and can be implemented as written. All previous staff suggestions have been accounted for.

ARIN General Counsel – Legal Assessment

The policy as written creates no material legal issues.

Resource Impact

Implementation of this policy would have minimal resource impact. It is estimated that implementation would occur within 3 months after ratification by the ARIN Board of Trustees. The following would be needed in order to implement:

• Staff training
• Updated guidelines and internal procedures
• Standard documentation updates

Proposal/Draft Policy Text Assessed: 18 May 2020 Version

History and Earlier Versions

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