Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes - 11 July 2006 [Archived]

Montreal, Canada

Attendees:

• John Curran, Chair
• Scott Bradner, Secretary
• Lee Howard, Treasurer
• Bill Manning, Trustee
• Ray Plzak, President
• Paul Vixie, Trustee – via teleconference
• Bill Woodcock, Trustee

ARIN Staff:

• Thérèse Colosi, Recording Secretary
• Nate Davis, Director of Operations
• Susan Hamlin, Director of Member Services
• Virginia Listman, Director of Engineering
• Leslie Nobile, Director of Registration Services
• Robert Stratton, Director of Financial Services

ARIN Counsel:

• Stephen Ryan

1. Welcome

The Chair called the meeting to order at 8:42 p.m. EDT. The presence of a quorum was noted.

2. Agenda Bashing

The Chair called for any comments. Scott Bradner suggested reducing the number of subjects to be discussed in the Executive Session. There were no objections.

3. Approval of the Minutes of May 9, 2006

Scott Bradner, as Secretary, moved that:

“The ARIN Board of Trustees adopts the Minutes of the May 9, 2006 ARIN Board Meeting, as written.”

This was seconded by Lee Howard. The motion carried unanimously.

4. General Counsel Activities

Scott Bradner moved that:

“The ARIN Board of Trustees enters an Executive Session to hear a report from the General Counsel.”

This was seconded by Bill Manning. The motion carried unanimously. The Chair noted the presence of staff during the session.

A. General Counsel Report. Counsel spoke briefly on litigation matters, and the registration services agreement and its process.

After discussion, the Chair asked for any objections to closing the executive session. There were no objections.

B. Contracting Process. Exhibit A attached. Counsel briefed the Board on this process, explaining that the process tells the community how ARIN approaches contracting, and how ARIN internally ensures the correct way in which it budgets for contracting services. Counsel requested the Board review the process and provide their comments. Scott Bradner asked staff for a chart indicating the number of contracts and values over 10K, and asked for a copy of the process document via email. The President stated it would be sent.

The Chair asked for any objections to Scott’s request. There were no objections.

C. Outsourcing Efforts. The President stated that, at the Board’s meeting in February, the Chair asked the President to obtain additional information on the matter regarding the impact it would have on ARIN before the Board decided on ARIN’s participation.

1. The President stated that staff had re-evaluated the impact on ARIN with regard to cleaning up the WHOIS database, and that ARIN can accomplish this internally. He stated that Registration Services Department (RSD) may need to temporarily supplement staff, and contract a small amount of outsourcing.

2. Certification Authority. The President stated that DHS had offered to contract to do the work and there were two possible approaches to the matter:

• DHS contracts with an outside party of their choosing, with ARIN being the technical representative of the contracting officer, or
• ARIN does the contracting with funding from DHS

The President reported that he had advised DHS that ARIN is not sure if it will pursue any of these options.

3. Signing Registry Numbering Resources.

Scott Bradner moved that:

“ARIN work with RIPE and APNIC with what they are doing.”

This was seconded by Bill Manning. At 9:48 p.m. Paul Vixie joined the call and the Chair briefed him on the meeting items to this point. The Chair called for discussion on the signing process idea.

Lee Howard requested clarification on the motion as stated. Ray Plzak explained that the RIRs were working on a system whereby the allocation resource records are signed. This provides certification regarding whom the space was given to so that parties can be comfortable in a peering environment. The system would provide a framework for secure routing.

Bill Woodcock felt working with the RIRs was a good idea. Paul Vixie stated that not all RIRs have the same format, capabilities, or systems; and, ARIN needs to get involved and help steer, research, clarify and implement a system as a global solution.

Lee Howard then suggested amending the motion to read:

“ARIN work with RIPE and APNIC on a process for signing resource records.”

The Chair suggested a further amendment:

“ARIN work with the other RIRs to determine a process by which resource records can be signed.”

Scott Bradner accepted the Chair’s amendment, stating that he felt ARIN should proceed and bring the matter to the members. It was the sense of the Board to begin research and development. Discussion ensued.

Counsel stated that at some point Counsel will play a role, and ARIN needs to explore the issues before making a commitment to the technology, and that staff needs to be made aware.

The Chair called for further comments on the amended motion. He requested calling the question or modifying the motion further. Scott Bradner replied by calling the question. The Chair called for any objections. There were no objections. It was the sense of the Board that ARIN should not proceed with actually implementing such a program without further discussion of the Board.

The motion carried unanimously via roll call.

The Chair called a recess at 10:18 p.m. EDT. The Chair resumed the meeting at 10:25 p.m. EDT.

As a point of order, the President stated that, based on the motion, he would be discussing the matter with the other RIRs and, with Counsel, he will discuss contracting options with DHS and report back to the Board. The Board agreed.

D. Community Consultation Process. Exhibit B attached. Previously, the Board had considered and rejected a Member Suggestion Process. Due to comments made during the last ARIN member meeting, and recent comments from the ARIN community, the President is submitting a new process.

Scott Bradner moved that:

“The ARIN Board of Trustees adopts the Community Consultation Process Document as presented, and directs the President to developing an appropriate ‘procedures document’.”

This was seconded by Bill Woodcock. The Chair stated that, currently, there is no clear process for the community to provide input on non-Internet related topics, and that Ray Plzak and Scott Bradner had drafted this process. Ray stated there were numerous calls for this issue to be researched during the ARIN meeting in April.

The Chair stated that the draft does not make a clear statement between Internet and non-Internet resource policy processes. He stated this needs to be crystal clear.

Scott Bradner suggested withdrawing the motion, and asked for a revised version.

Bill Woodcock felt the process was unnecessary. The President replied stating that transparency is key, and, an important part of this is adhering to published processes. He stated that there is no published process currently in place for community consultation.

Scott Bradner then withdrew his motion. The President stated he would send the revised draft to the Board’s list.

5. Motions from Executive Session

This item was removed by the President, as a point of order, since there were no motions in the Executive Session.

6. Policies Regarding IPv4 Depletion

The President stated that during a roundtable discussion held during the ARIN meeting in Orlando in 2005, the need for policies to be put in place that would address the issue of the depletion of IPv4 was discussed. Scott Bradner asked the President to propose the matter to the Board’s list for their consideration. Bill Manning, Scott Bradner, John Curran and Lee Howard volunteered to work with President on the topic and to task the ARIN Advisory Council with drafting a proposal regarding the depletion of IPv4 addresses.

7. Caribbean Activities

The President reported that recently ARIN has been working on promoting activities in its portion of the Caribbean region. He stated that there were not a lot of members in the area, but recently went to San Juan, Puerto Rico, and also met with people from the islands while at the ICANN meeting in Marrakech. He stated that they were very interested in increased ARIN activity in the Caribbean.

The President then discussed several planned activities in the Caribbean portion of the ARIN region. They included: conducting an ARIN Public Policy Meeting; organizing educational workshops; and, collaborating with other Internet-related activities in the area.

Chair called for any comments. It was the sense of the Board that ARIN should proceed with this initiative.

8. NRO Matters

A. ICANN Contract. The President reported that the CEO, and one Board member, from each RIR had formed a group, John Curran being the Board member from the ARIN region. He stated the contract has been reviewed by all the RIRs, and sent to ICANN to begin the process of negotiation.

B. Internet Governance.

1. ITU-T Liaison. The President stated that the Chair of the NRO EC received a letter accepting the request for liaison between the ITU-T and the NRO and that it will be sent to Board’s list for informational purposes. The NRO EC needs to review the letter.

2. NTIA Comments. The President stated that he had provided the draft comment document to the Board stating that it reflects comments from the LACNIC Board, and from ARIN Board members who had sent their comments. This document was due to the NTIA last week, but ARIN was able to obtain an extension. He requested that if the Board had any further comments to submit, to please send them to him. The Board reviewed the document, and there were no further comments.

9. Financial Committee Report (FinCom)

• Acceptance of 2005 Audit Report.

Lee Howard, as Treasurer, moved that:

“The ARIN Board of Trustees accepts the 2005 audited financial statements, as presented.”

This was seconded by Scott Bradner. The Chair called for any discussion. The Treasurer briefed the Board on two changes to the earlier draft report: one involving revenue recognition, and the other regarding a litigation matter.

Scott Bradner moved to amend the motion to read:

“The ARIN Board of Trustees accepts the 2005 audited financial statements, as presented, and gives the authority to the CFO and Treasurer to negotiate with/the auditors about a single sentence in footnote 10.”

This was seconded by John Curran. The motion carried unanimously via roll call.

• Discussion of IPv6 Assignment Fees.

Lee Howard, as Treasurer, moved that:

“The ARIN Board of Trustees adopts the IPv6 Initial Assignment fee schedule, as presented.”

This was seconded by Scott Bradner. The Chair stated this information could be found on the ARIN website and called for discussion. The President noted that the range for micro allocations is a /41 to /48, but that the new policy takes it to a /56. It was the sense of the Board that the FinCom will re-evaluate the matter in the future. Bill Manning stated he was in favor of this change.

The Treasurer stated that the FinCom reviewed current revenue vs. expenses, and for the future, and felt this fee was in line with ARIN’s future needs.

The motion carried unanimously via roll call.

• Discussion of IPv6 Fee Waiver.

Lee Howard, as Treasurer, moved that:

“The ARIN Board of Trustees waives all but $500 of the IPv6 Initial Assignment fee through 31 December 2007.”

This was seconded by Bill Manning. The Treasurer explained that a waiver for end users was needed, and ARIN needed to waive it separately because otherwise these people would need to become members. This decision made the most sense and was the most fair to all involved.

The motion carried unanimously via roll call.

• Other FinCom Matters. The Treasurer stated that, per the Chair’s request, the FinCom was forecasting revenue and expenses five and ten years out, and is still analyzing the matter. He stated that so far there is nothing to indicate the need for ARIN to adjust its fees.

10. Teleconference

The President stated that the Board needs to meet to consider a recommendation that is expected from the ARIN Advisory Council (AC) after their meeting on July 20, 2006. Recent adoption of ARIN policies will cause changes to NRPM. The AC considered this at their previous meeting, and some AC members had voiced concerns. On July 20 they will reconsider the edits. The Board will need to act on the recommendation within 10 days after the AC’s meeting on July 20.

The President will propose dates and times to the Board’s list. Bill Manning requested the teleconference be held before July 24.

11. Any Other Business

The Chair called for any other business. Scott Bradner asked the Board to charge Counsel and the President to post an announcement to the PPML addressing the question on the current Registration Services Agreement. Counsel suggested he and the President jointly draft a recommendation and seek the Board’s input. All agreed, with Counsel stating they would post something to the Board shortly.

12. Adjournment

The Chair entertained a motion to adjourn at 11:15 p.m. EDT. Scott Bradner moved to adjourn and this was seconded by Bill Manning. The motion carried unanimously.