Draft Policy ARIN-2024-5

Rewrite of NRPM Section 4.4 Micro-Allocation

Status: Under Discussion
Shepherds: Daniel Schatte, Chris Woodfield

Current Text (10 December 2024)

Problem Statement:

The current NRPM Section 4.4 language hasn’t aged well. As the ARIN 53 policy experience report demonstrated, 4.4 has also become difficult to implement by ARIN staff. The growth and use of Internet Exchanges have also changed. The overhaul seeks to improve technical soundness, respect the privilege of a dedicated pool and to more closely observe conservation principles using clear, minimum and enforceable requirements and underscoring the value of routability of allocated prefixes as required.

Policy Statement:

4.4 Critical Internet Infrastructure (CII) Allocations

The intent of this policy is not to unreasonably preclude the use of an allocated prefix in servicing the needs of Critical Internet Infrastructure.

ARIN will reserve a /15 equivalent of IPv4 address space for Critical Internet Infrastructure (CII) within the ARIN RIR service area. Allocations from this pool will be no smaller than a /24. Sparse allocation will be used whenever practical. CII includes Internet Exchanges, IANA-authorized root servers, ccTLD operators, ARIN, and IANA. Addresses allocated from this pool may be revoked if they are no longer in use or not used for approved purposes. Only Section 8.2 transfers are allowed. Use of this policy for CII is voluntary. ARIN will publish all 4.4 allocated addresses for research purposes.

4.4.1 Internet Exchange Allocations

Internet Exchange operators must justify their need by providing the following:

• A minimum of three initial participants connected to a shared, physical switching fabric to be used for the purpose of the exchange of data destined for and between the respective networks

• Justification must include:

  • Three unique participant names and ASNs not under common control
  • Direct contact information for each participant

• Staff can reasonably validate hardware existence and the participant’s intent

• Applicant’s Internet Exchange affiliated ASNs are not eligible to be included in meeting the participant requirement

• Allocated addresses may be publicly reachable at the operator’s discretion and be used to operate all of the Internet Exchange’s infrastructure

4.4.2 Root and ccTLD Allocations

Root and ccTLD operators will provide justification of their need and certification of their status as currently active zone operators.

Timetable for Implementation: Immediate.

History and Earlier Versions

Related Meetings