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Abstract:
This document describes how the RIPE NCC can allocate resources to itself.
1.0 Introduction
The RIPE NCC is an independent association and serves as one of five Regional Internet Registries (RIRs). Its service region incorporates Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia. The RIPE NCC is responsible for the allocation and assignment of Internet Protocol (IP) address space, Autonomous System Numbers (ASNs) and the management of reverse domain names within this region.
1.1 Scope
This document describes the policy for allocating resources to the RIPE NCC. This policy applies to all resources, current and future, allocated to the RIPE NCC, its subsidiaries or affiliates. This document does not describe any specific resource or a policy restricted to a specific resource; it does however impact how the resource-specific policies should be interpreted when applied to the RIPE NCC as the entity requesting resources. This document does not describe or impact any policy where it is applied to regular LIRs.
2.0 RIPE NCC as a Resource Holder
Any resources allocated to the RIPE NCC will be registered in the RIPE Database under the LIR identity of 'eu.ripencc'. All policies set for allocating resources to LIRs apply equally to the RIPE NCC. The RIPE NCC as a resource holder should fulfill the same basic requirements also expected of normal LIRs, such as returning unused resources. While the RIPE NCC will still handle the administrative tasks involved with allocating resources itself, it will not evaluate the validity of its own requests.
[Following section will be modified later depending on the Working Group decision on who should do the evaluation of a request: “Pool of Arbiters” or “The RIPE Working Group Chairs”. In the rest of the document this possibility is marked as necessary.]
3.0 Pool of Arbiters
Defined in ripe-174, the pool of Arbiters has been appointed by the RIPE NCC Executive Committee (and approved by the General Meeting). The arbiters' function is to mediate in any conflict between the RIPE NCC and one of its members. In addition to executing the RIPE NCC Conflict Arbitration Procedure, the pool of arbiters will also evaluate the validity of all requests for resources made by the RIPE NCC.
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3.0 RIPE Working Group Chairs
RIPE Working Group Chairs is the group of all the chairs and co-chairs of all the current RIPE Working Groups, including the RIPE Chair. RIPE Working Group Chairs chair the working groups and the discussions that take place within RIPE. They function under the consent of the RIPE community. This group will evaluate the validity of all requests for resources made by the RIPE NCC.
4.0 Evaluating a Request
The evaluation of an allocation request made by the RIPE NCC will be done by a team of at least three of the [arbiters/RIPE WG Chairs]. The [arbiters/RIPE WG Chairs] will respond to any new request within one month. For the purpose of evaluating, the request will be treated as if it were filed by a regular LIR. If the request is approved, the resources will then be allocated by the RIPE NCC and registered in the RIPE Database.
5.0 Conflict Resolution
Should the [pool of arbiters/group of RIPE WG Chairs] reject a request, or if the request cannot be granted by applying the standard LIR policies, the RIPE NCC can file a request to the RIPE Plenary Meeting to have its case heard. It is then up to the RIPE Plenary to decide whether the request should be granted or not. At no point can the RIPE NCC allocate resources to itself without prior consent of either [the pool of arbiters/RIPE WG Chairs] or the RIPE Plenary.
All resource-holders in the RIPE NCC service area are now required to have a contractual relationship with the RIPE NCC, directly or indirectly. There is however one entity that cannot sign a contract with the RIPE NCC - the RIPE NCC itself. This policy cleans up the current variety in which the RIPE NCC has allocated resources to itself and sets a standard way for the RIPE NCC to get further resources allocated.
For all means and purposes, the RIPE NCC itself will be treated as an LIR and will follow the same policies as an LIR; however the role the RIPE NCC has in analysing and evaluating any request by an LIR is instead done by members of [the pool of arbiters/RIPE WG Chairs].
a. Arguments Supporting the Proposal
Currently, there is no standard way for the RIPE NCC to get resources allocated. This has so far led to an inconsistent picture between the various resource types; a lot of ad hoc policies and exemptions. This needs to be cleaned up. One way to look at it is that every single resource allocated to the RIPE NCC is a conflict of interest between the RIPE NCC and ALL of its members.
Therefore, it makes sense the same people who arbitrate conflicts between RIPE NCC and its members evaluate the requests for resources as filed by the RIPE NCC.
Another alternative for the evaluation body is the group of RIPE Working Group Chairs who form a highly policy-aware independent group. According to the input the community provides, the group that will evaluate requests from the RIPE NCC will be clarified in the next phase of the proposal.
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