[address-policy-wg] Policy proposal 2007-01, "Direct Internet Resource Assignments to End Users from the RIPE NCC"

[Axel Pawlik <axel.pawlik@localhost]

[
I wanted to send this a little earlier, but was caught up in
transit to the ARIN meeting.

cheers, Axel
]

Dear all,

It has come to my attention that the community has pointed out that 
there is no draft of an actual End User contract included in policy 
proposal 2007-01.
This issue has been raised after the proposal was moved to the Review 
Phase of the Policy Development Process (PDP) and a draft policy 
document was published.
After extensive discussion, the RIPE NCC Executive Board does not 
believe that the addition of a draft contract to proposal 2007-01 is 
necessary.
Preferred model

The Executive Board anticipates that this proposal will introduce a dual 
model whereby an End User can chose to have *either* a contract with a 
"sponsoring Local Internet Registry (LIR)" or directly with the RIPE NCC.
The Executive Board believes that having a “sponsoring LIR” is the 
preferred model; the RIPE NCC currently has more than 5400 members, from 
which the sponsoring LIR can be chosen. This model has been outlined in 
the draft document.
Further, the Executive Board maintains that the RIPE NCC should not be 
involved in any contractual processes or details that occur between an 
LIR and its customer. Such contracts should be formulated by the 
"sponsoring" LIR and not by the RIPE NCC.
However, the Executive Board would like to point out that any contract 
between End User and "sponsoring LIR" must be formulated clearly so that 
the End User understands the consequences,as outlined in the RIPE 
proposal, of applying for or holding a direct resource assignment.
Proposal 2007-01, and existing RIPE policies, already have references to 
such consequences and outline possible cautions that "supporting LIRs" 
may want to include in their customers' contracts. The RIPE NCC, 
however, will always available for consultation about the consequences 
and cautions mentioned above.
Direct contracts with the RIPE NCC

The Executive Board also understands that the proposal introduces the 
option for those End Users who cannot form a contract with a "Sponsoring 
LIR" to form a contract directly with the RIPE NCC. In this case the End 
User will be required to set up an LIR and become a RIPE NCC member.
Charging Scheme

If this proposal is accepted, the charging scheme applied by the RIPE 
NCC to "Sponsoring LIRs" will be addressed by the RIPE NCC Executive 
Board in due course and reviewed by the RIPE NCC membership during RIPE 
NCC General Meetings.
Conclusion

Overall, the Executive Board and I understand that the proposal's 
intention is to facilitate clear and improved contractual relationships 
with End Users so that the obligations of responsible stewardship of 
Internet resources can be fulfilled by LIRs and the RIPE NCC.
We believe that the details of the actual contracts between End User and 
"supporting LIR" should be devised by the LIR. It is, of course, the 
responsibility of the LIRs together with the RIPE NCC to ensure that the 
details set out in these contracts comply with the guidelines that the 
RIPE policies have set.
Regards,

Axel Pawlik

Managing Director
RIPE NCC