Internet Governance News

RIRs Submit Remarks to ITU WTPF-13

Chris Buckridge — 2013-05-01T14:21:05Z

The document, entitled "Input to the WTPF-13 from the Regional Internet Registries", addresses a range of issues that will be discussed at the upcoming ITU World Telecommunication/ICT Policy Forum 2013 (WTPF-13).

In mid-April, various RIPE community members gave feedback on a draft of this document. It was updated ahead of its official submission and now includes more detailed information to address some of the opinions discussed by the Informal Expert Group (IEG) that was convened in preparation for the WTPF-13.

An annex has been added outlining the efforts of the five RIRs to support the deployment of IPv6 and IPv6 capacity building.

Representatives of all five RIRs will be present at WTPF-13 and, as always, are available for consultation on any of the points raised in this document, as well as any other aspects of RIR business.

RIPE community members are encouraged to comment or raise questions on the RIPE Cooperation Working Group mailing list.

RIRs’ input to the WTPF-13

Adam Castle — 2013-04-19T13:10:00Z

This document addresses some of the Draft Opinions discussed by the Informal Expert Group in preparation for the ITU World Telecommunication/ICT Policy Forum 2013 (WTPF-13).

RIPE NCC Hosts Brussels Roundtable Meeting for Governments and Regulators

Marita Phelan — 2013-03-21T15:54:56Z

The first 2013 Roundtable Meeting was held in Brussels on 19 March, adjacent to the European Commission's High Level Group on Internet Governance. The event attracted around 40 participants from governments, regulators and industry. These meetings, which are held twice a year, are a major element in the RIPE NCC's efforts to stimulate dialogue and enhance understanding between the public sector and the RIPE community. They also provide an opportunity to identify areas of cooperation between the public sector and the RIPE NCC.

In the period since the last Roundtable Meeting (held in September 2012 during the RIPE 65 Meeting in Amsterdam), there have been a number of significant developments of interest to governments, including the ITU's World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT) and the emergence of a trade in IPv4 address blocks.

The agenda of this week's Roundtable Meeting reflected those developments. RIPE NCC Registration Services Manager, Andrea Cima, led a discussion of IPv4 address management in the RIPE NCC service region. Feedback from participants focused on issues including:

The potential size and duration of a global IPv4 market
Strategies to avoid speculation, including needs-based assessment for approval of intra- and inter-RIR resource transfers
Potential for the politicisation of concerns about IPv4 address availability in various governmental forums

Discussion also centered around developments in the IP address registry system, with RIPE NCC Director of External Relations, Paul Rendek, reporting on the RIPE NCC's engagement with the ITU and discussions around the establishment of an "Arab RIR". Participants were able to provide some important feedback and perspectives, such as:

Ongoing and improved communication between the technical community and public sector is vital to informed public policy-making
An NRO-led response to the online consultation by the ITU Council Working Group on international Internet-related public policy issues (CWG-Internet) is important; it is also vital that the RIPE NCC respond to the issues raised (regarding IPv4 policies) ahead of the World Telecommunication/ICT Policy Forum (WTPF) in May, as many of these issues will also be discussed there
The issue of "Enhanced Cooperation" (a concept that emerged from the WSIS events) will continue to be politically sensitive over the coming year, particularly with the establishment of the UN CSTD Working Group on Enhanced Cooperation
While many governments support multi-stakeholder model of Internet governance, it would be useful for the Internet technical community stakeholders to document specific evidence of the multi-stakeholder model's successes.

Finally, Emile Aben, System Architect with the RIPE NCC Research & Development Group, showcased some of the statistical and analytical tools being developed by the RIPE NCC, and their relevance for policy makers. Subsequent discussion demonstrated the public sector's strong interest in this work, particularly in tools that can be used for comparative analysis of Internet trends.

The feedback and discussions that the RIPE NCC Roundtable Meetings facilitate are an important factor in shaping the RIPE NCC's strategy in Internet governance, and are a valuable opportunity for public sector representatives to inform their own decision-making. They can also inspire discussion in more open community venues, including the RIPE Cooperation Working Group, which will meet at RIPE 66 in Dublin this May.

If you would like more information about upcoming RIPE NCC Roundtable Meetings, please contact us at roundtable _at_ ripe _dot_ net.

RIPE NCC Response to Government Interest in an Arab RIR

Mihnea-Costin Grigore — 2013-02-25T10:30:00Z

Over the past weeks and following on from talks at last year's ITU WTSA and WCIT events, both AFRINIC and the RIPE NCC have been asked to participate in discussions concerning the possibility of establishing a new Regional Internet Registry (RIR) for the Arabic-speaking community.

In the spirit of open community discussion, both AFRINIC and the RIPE NCC feel that this should be brought to the attention of our members and community.

It is imperative to note that these discussions have not in any way been instigated by the management or staff of either AFRINIC or the RIPE NCC. The matter has been raised and promoted by representatives of certain governments in the Arab community.

The RIPE NCC is proud to serve the needs of our members in Arabic-speaking states, and we believe that the existing system can meet the needs of a growing membership in the Arab region.

As you are all aware, an RIR provides a range of services, including managing its service region’s Internet number resources (IPv4, IPv6 and ASNs), maintaining proper records of all registry activities in a publicly accessible database (the RIPE Database), as well as capacity building and training on use of these resources. RIRs also provide general support for regional Internet Infrastructure, and facilitate community discussion and engagement.

The RIPE NCC has been particularly excited to contribute to the development of forums such as the Middle East Network Operators Group (MENOG), the Middle East Peering Forum and the Arab Internet Governance Forum, and initiatives like the MENOG IPv6 Roadshow. Through these activities, we have supported the growth of the local industry and the development of an active professional community within the region, including a RIPE NCC representative office in Dubai.

RIRs are community-governed organisations. If the RIPE NCC membership and Internet community in the Arab region feels that there is a need to establish a new RIR, the RIPE NCC and AFRINIC will be happy to support this development appropriately. There are steps, via the open, bottom-up policy development process, to facilitate this. ICP-2, "Criteria for Establishment of New Regional Internet Registries", is a global policy, approved through consensus by the communities of all the existing RIRs, which sets out this process:
http://www.icann.org/en/news/in-focus/global-addressing/new-rirs-criteria

This, like all RIR policies, was a result of "bottom-up" policy development, based on the premise that those who use Internet number resources and have a stake in the Internet, including actors from civil society, business, the technical community, government and law enforcement agencies (LEAs), should take the lead in developing policies relating to the management of those resources.

"Top-down" policies developed without the participation of those who operate the Internet carry the risk of significant unintended consequences for the Internet and Internet users.

It is vital that the Internet technical community have a voice in deciding such an important issue. We encourage community members to raise any questions or issues on the RIPE Discussion list [ripe-list _at_ ripe _dot_ net], or to email the RIPE NCC directly. We are also happy to work with anyone who wishes to raise this issue in upcoming community forums such as MENOG 12 (5-14 March in Dubai) or RIPE 66 (13-17 May in Dublin, Ireland).

RIPE NCC to Host Arab IGF MAG Meeting and Open Consultation

Adam Castle — 2013-02-21T13:05:00Z

At the invitation of the Arab Internet Governance Forum (Arab IGF) Secretariat, the RIPE NCC and the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) of the UAE will co-host two preparatory events in Dubai this March for the second Arab IGF: an Open Consultation and a meeting of the Arab Multi-stakeholder Advisory Group (AMAG).

The first Arab IGF, held in 2012 in Kuwait, was hailed for successfully bringing together a diverse group of participants to discuss pressing regional Internet governance issues, including security, content blocking, access for youth and women, and management of critical Internet resources (including IP addresses and domain names).

The RIPE NCC is proud to have been a supporter of the Arab IGF since its inception, and in 2012 provided financial and administrative support for the event. Paul Rendek, RIPE NCC Director of External Relations, also serves as a member of the AMAG, which is responsible for guiding the development of the Arab IGF.

The 2013 Arab IGF event will be held in the second half of the year, and the important work of setting an agenda that engages with the concerns of Internet stakeholders in the region begins with this meeting of the AMAG and Open Consultation.

The two events will run from 3-5 March at the Radisson Royal Hotel in Dubai, UAE, with the AMAG meeting in closed sessions on 3 and 5 March and the Open Consultation on 4-5 March. Anyone with an interest is welcome to attend the Open Consultation, and remote participation facilities will also be available. The programme will also include a public session on “Multi-stakeholder Internet Governance in the Arab World”, with speakers including ICANN President and CEO, Fadi Chehade, and Chairman of the ICANN Board, Steve Crocker.

This is a key moment for Internet governance, both at the global level and for the Arab region. Well-publicised discussions in forums such as the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) have left many uncertain about what future Internet-related public policy will look like, and what roles the public and private sectors should play. In this context, it is more important than ever that all Internet stakeholders express their opinions and concerns, and that there be forums where all groups can meet and share information and opinions. While still new on the scene, the Arab IGF is already proving an important, multi-stakeholder space for these discussions.

The RIPE NCC is honoured to be working with the UAE TRA and the Arab IGF Secretariat to facilitate the community-driven development of the 2013 Arab IGF agenda. The RIPE NCC and its fellow Regional Internet Registries have repeatedly stressed the importance of regional Internet governance processes to identify the distinct regional perspectives on key Internet governance issues. As well as helping to address issues at a regional level, events like the Arab IGF are vital in presenting regional perspectives in global Internet governance discussions.

We strongly encourage anyone with an interest in Internet governance issues in the Arab region to contribute to the Open Consultation process on 4-5 March. Those wishing to attend in person can complete an online registration form.

Internet Governance and the RIPE NCC: the Year Ahead

Mihnea-Costin Grigore — 2013-02-20T14:31:15Z

Internet governance is an important area of resource investment for the RIPE NCC. This article looks at some of the major Internet discussions taking place in 2013, including:

What is the multi-stakeholder process?
Who pays for the Internet’s infrastructure?
What role will governments have in Internet governance?

Under an over-arching goal of ensuring the informed development of public policy relating to the Internet, the RIPE NCC has a number of areas of priority over the coming 12 months. These are:

Increasing understanding of the benefits of Internet Exchange Points and local peering
Building more effective regional engagement on Internet governance issues
Engaging effectively with the ITU and its Member States on Internet governance

The RIPE NCC is eager to hear from all of our stakeholders, including the RIPE NCC membership and broader RIPE community, on what issues are important and how the RIPE NCC can most effectively represent its community. We facilitate this feedback through a range of forums and activities, including the RIPE Cooperation Working Group and RIPE NCC Regional Meetings.

Read the full article on RIPE Labs.

NRO and ICANN comment on ITU Secretary General’s WTPF Report

Mihnea-Costin Grigore — 2013-02-20T12:55:00Z

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and the Number Resource Organization (NRO) have written to the chair of the Informal Expert Group (IEG) of the World Telecommunication Policy Forum 2013 providing further comments on the International Telecommunication Union’s Secretary-General WTPF Report.

NRO Observations on WCIT-12 process

Marita Phelan — 2012-12-17T09:30:00Z

The Number Resource Organization, representing the world’s five Regional Internet address Registries, issues the following statement from Dubai, the site of the recent World Conference on International Telecommunications.

RIPE NCC Report on IGF 2012

Adam Castle — 2012-12-05T12:55:00Z

The seventh Internet Governance Forum took place in Baku, Azerbaijan from 6-9 November 2012, bringing together more than 1,600 people from 128 countries. The RIPE NCC participated in the event, working with fellow Regional Internet Registries (RIRs) and industry partners to develop the IGF program, organise workshops and contribute to discussions.

Reports and session transcripts have now been published on the IGF website for the three workshops that the RIPE NCC was involved in organising:

Workshop 99: Moving to IPv6: Challenges for Internet Governance (Organised by the Number Resource Organization (NRO))
Workshop 100: Internet Governance and RPKI (Organised by the NRO)
Workshop 117: Best Common Practices for Building Internet Capacity (Organised by RIPE NCC, AFRINIC and the Arab IGF)

The RIPE NCC also contributed to workshops on Internet Exchange Point development (Workshop 159), Developing a National/Regional Framework of Principles for Internet Governance (Workshop 170), and two sessions discussing output from the Arab IGF.

The main plenary session on Managing Critical Internet Resources (CIRs) considered issues surrounding the ICANN new gTLD program, Intergovernmentalism (focusing on the ITU, WCIT and the International Telecommunications Regulations) and IPv4 markets. Each of these discussions built on work done in earlier workshops, with APNIC Chief Scientist Geoff Huston representing the RIR community perspective on the panels. A transcript of this session is available on the IGF website.

Looking ahead, APNIC Director General Paul Wilson spoke to the Closing Ceremony, highlighting the ongoing concerns regarding IGF funding and the importance of maintaining the IGF as part of a broader, multi-stakeholder, bottom-up system of Internet governance. There were also calls from many participants for the IGF to take a more active role in defining and facilitating "Enhanced Cooperation", a key concept in Internet governance processes since the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in 2003.

The next IGF will be held in late 2013 in Indonesia. Paul Rendek will continue in his role as a member of the Multi-stakeholder Advisory Group (MAG), which will develop the themes and working methods for the event. There will also be opportunities for members of the general public to contribute feedback and ideas through Open Consultations, the first of which will take place at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris on 28 February 2013.

We welcome any questions or comments regarding the RIPE NCC's participation in IGF 2013 on the RIPE Cooperation Working Group mailing list.

“Stop the Net Grab”: NRO shares concerns about the WCIT process

Marita Phelan — 2012-11-14T08:25:00Z

The Number Resource Organization (NRO), the body representing the five Regional Internet Registries (RIRs), today expressed its support for the “Stop the Net Grab” campaign that is being spearheaded by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) in the lead-up to the World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT-12).

NRO Contribution to the WCIT Public Consultation Process

Adam Castle — 2012-11-07T08:15:00Z

The five Regional Internet Registries contributed views in response to the ITU’s public consultation in preparation of the World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT) to be held in Dubai in December 2012, where the International Telecommunications Regulations (ITRs) will be reviewed.

RIPE NCC Participates in First Arab IGF

Adam Castle — 2012-10-17T13:20:00Z

The first Arab Internet Governance Forum (IGF) took place in Kuwait from 9-11 October, hosted by the Kuwait Information Technology Society (KITS) and attracting more than 290 participants from 16 countries throughout the Arab region and around the world. As well as contributing to wide-ranging discussions over the three days, the RIPE NCC played a significant role in supporting this event. Paul Rendek, RIPE NCC Director of External Relations, is a member of the Multi-stakeholder Advisory Group responsible for organising the event, and RIPE NCC staff provided remote participation facilities in all of the Arab IGF sessions.

The Arab IGF program reflected the concerns of many Internet stakeholders in the region, which is experiencing rapid growth in its ICT sector. Subjects such as regional Internet infrastructure, online freedom of expression, network security, local content and website blocking were all discussed in depth, with a particular emphasis on the increasing engagement of women and youth.

The RIPE NCC helped to organise a plenary session on Critical Internet Resources, which discussed IPv6 adoption, the uptake of internationalised domain names (IDNs) and strategies to improve Internet governance in the region. RIPE NCC staff also contributed to several workshop sessions on topics including IPv6 and the importance of Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) to regional Internet growth.

Issues raised during the event will feed into the global Internet Governance Forum, which takes place in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 6-9 November. Archives of the sessions will also be made available on the Arab IGF website in the near future.

The Arab IGF will take place annually, with offers currently being considered for a 2013 host country. The RIPE NCC looks forward to continuing to work with all stakeholders to ensure the long-term success and value of this unique regional event.

RIPE NCC Hosts Law Enforcement Meeting

alix — 2012-03-16T14:49:33Z

On Wednesday, 14 March 2012, the RIPE NCC, working with the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) in the UK, organised a meeting for Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) in London.

The event was organised to coincide with the E-Crime Congress being held in London, which annually attracts LEA representatives from all over the world to discuss Internet crime issues.

More than 80 attendees from 22 countries attended the RIPE NCC event, which included presentations on IP address policy developments in the RIPE NCC and ARIN communities, cross-border law enforcement issues, and the potential for abuse of Internet number resources through activity such as IP address hijacking.

This was the third time that the RIPE NCC has organised such a meeting in parallel to the E-Crime Congress, and it provides an important opportunity for LEAs to learn how they can work with the RIPE NCC and RIPE community, and to gain a better understanding of IP addressing and related issues.

Looking ahead, the attendees proposed the formation of a task force, made up of LEA and RIPE NCC representatives, to look at how law enforcement can use RIPE NCC tools and how those tools could be further developed.

RIPE NCC Roundtable Meeting in Brussels

Marita Phelan — 2012-02-23T13:40:00Z

The RIPE NCC Roundtable Meeting for Governments and Regulators took place in Brussels on 21 February 2012.

This was the first time that the RIPE NCC has held such an event in Brussels, and it attracted an audience of more than 50 government representatives, law enforcement agencies and RIPE community members. Discussions during the day focused on RIPE community priorities in the lead-up to the ITU World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT), cross-border legal issues related to the Internet registry system, and RIPE NCC tools and analysis.

RIPE NCC staff also provided updates on IPv4 exhaustion, IPv6 adoption and the development of Internet resource certification (RPKI). Jacques Babot, of the European Commission (EC), presented an update on the EC's support for IPv6 adoption in the European Union.

All presentations delivered at the meeting are now available at:
http://www.ripe.net/ripe/meetings/roundtable/february-2012