Policy 2007-9: Modernization of ISP Immediate Need Policy [Archived]

Status: Adopted - NRPM Section 4.2.1.6

Tracking Information

Discussion Tracking

Mailing List:

Formal introduction on PPML on 2 March 2007

Staff assessment - 13 April 2007
Last call - 25 April through 9 May 2007Public Policy Mailing List

ARIN Public Policy Meeting:

ARIN XIX

ARIN Advisory Council:

1 March 2007
24 April 2007
17 May 2007

ARIN Board of Trustees:

Adopted on 14 June 2007

Revisions:

Implementation:

22 August 2007

Author(s):

Robert Seastrom

Proposal type: modify

Policy term: permanent

Policy statement: Modify NRPM 4.2.1.6 to read: If an ISP has an immediate need for address space, and can provide justification to show that the address space will be utilized within 30 days of the request, ARIN may issue a block of address space, not larger than a /16 nor smaller than ARIN’s customary minimum allocation, to that organization. These cases are exceptional.

Current text of 4.2.1.6: If an ISP has an immediate need for address space, i.e., the need exists the day of the request, ARIN may issue a /20 if the organization, such as a new company, shows justification. However, these cases are exceptional.

Rationale:

ARIN staff and ARIN members have identified a few long-standing problems with the Immediate Need policy. This policy proposal attempts to address the following concerns:

• The Immediate Need policy only allows ISPs to qualify for a /20 worth of space, when a larger size block may be necessary to provide proper coverage for the proposed project. An example justifying larger space is an MSOs for which a /20 is insufficient to put an address block larger than a /29 or /30 on each CMTS in a metropolitan area).
• Conversely, this policy was written before the current multi-homed policy (which allows allocations of /21s and /22s). The Immediate Need policy should allow assignment of smaller blocks of space if those are justified.
• The example used in the Immediate Need policy gives the impression that an immediate need must exist the day of the request. This seems both unfair and unreasonable and should probably be changed to reflect a realistic timeframe.

Concerns expressed about the Immediate Need Policy but NOT addressed by this policy proposal (but addressed in a subsequent policy proposal):

• The policy as written allows ARIN to issue a /20 to an ISP only. However, section 4.3.4. “Additional Considerations” of the End User Policy in the NRPM states that “End-users may qualify for address space under other policies such as Immediate need [4.2.1.6] or Micro-allocation [4.4].”. In order to be consistent, the Immediate Need policy language should be changed to reflect the fact that both ISPs and end-users can qualify under this policy.

Timetable for implementation: Immediate