Changes to Policy Development Process in RIPE

1. Introduction

Since its creation in 1989, RIPE has been a forum for people to decide from time to time agreed on common practices. These common practices may come in different forms and/or under different names:

• best common practice (BCP) (or BCP),
• recommendations and guidelines to the community to the community, insert: </li>
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• requests to the RIPE NCC,
• recommendations and guidelines to the RIPE NCC delete: </li> delete: <li> policy to the RIPE NCC, insert: </li>
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• or just policy.

This In this document refers solely to “Policy”. they are all called 'Policy'.

The process that results in the creation of a policy has some a few important and fundamental principles:

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1. it is open to all and follows an established, bottom-up process of collaboration. all. Everyone interested in the well-being of the Internet may propose a policy policy, and take part in the discussions that follow on from the proposal. delete: </li> delete: <li> It discussions. insert: </li>
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2. it is transparent. All discussions and resulting actions results are documented and freely available to all. delete: </li> delete: <li> Conclusions all insert: </li>
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3. conclusions are reached by consensus.
delete: <li> All policies are documented within RIPE Documents and placed in the RIPE Document Store. delete: </li>

The policies referred to in this document are those developed through the bottom-up RIPE PDP. This process has worked quite well over the years. This document does not describe the specific administrative or technical procedures established in order for a policy to be applied. Depending on the specifics of a policy, procedures can be set by the Local Internet Registries (LIRs), End Users and the RIPE NCC as required. These procedures must conform to all policies seek to change that. insert: </p>

What this document does try to accomplish is a description of the process that are in place. delete: </p> delete: <p> RIPE Policies are also separate from RIPE NCC business practices and procedures. Business practices and procedures that the RIPE NCC follows are defined and governed by the RIPE NCC Executive Board and approved by the RIPE NCC membership. will improve its management.

2. The Process

The In the process of developing a policy has four several distinct phases: phases are identified:

1. Creating a Proposal
2. Discussion Phase
3. Review Phase
4. Concluding Phase

These four Each of these phases are detailed below with timelines. below. insert: </p>

In the descriptions below, timelines are mentioned. They are proposed deadlines for the various stages. proposal phases. Individual proposals may choose to vary these, but however the actual timescales must be documented.

In all phases of the RIPE PDP, suggestions for changes to the proposal and objections regarding the proposal must be justified with supporting arguments. delete: </p> delete: <p> In this process, the RIPE NCC (the RIPE community's secretariat) gives administrative support by: support, such as:

• publishing administering proposals and related discussions insert: </li>
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• publication on relevant webpages web pages
• tracking deadlines
delete: <li> making announcements to the RIPE community delete: </li> delete: <li> providing insert: </ul>

Anyone that wants to draft a policy proposal may seek assistance in drafting policy proposals if requested delete: </li> delete: <li> providing from the RIPE NCC. The RIPE NCC will provide relevant facts, statistics and an assessment of the work involved in the implementation of a policy delete: </li> delete: </ul> proposal. The RIPE NCC will also assist with the drafting of text if its editorial services are required. insert: </p>

The process flow is illustrated in a diagram, attached as diagram in insert: <a href="#appendixa" data-linktype="anchor" data-val="0"> Appendix A. delete: </p> delete: <p> There are a number of points in the PDP at which disputes could arise. The PDP is designed so that compromises can be made and genuine consensus achieved. However, there are times when even the most reasonable and knowledgeable people are unable to agree on the decisions made at the end of any PDP phase. To achieve the goals of openness, transparency and fairness, such conflicts must be resolved through a process of open review and discussion. This process is documented in Appendix C, RIPE Policy Development Dispute Resolution. A insert: </a> .

2.1 Creating a Proposal

Discussions may be started by anyone Anyone can start a discussion at any time. Participants are welcome to discuss broad ideas as well as to make detailed policy proposals. Proposals are made using the a Policy Proposal template, attached as Template [ insert: <a href="#appendixb" data-linktype="anchor" data-val="1"> TEMPLATE Appendix B. B insert: </a> ].

The template forms a structure for the proposal. It details the reason for the proposal and any perceived consequences of the proposal.

A proposal is discussed publicly in the relevant RIPE Working Group (WG)[ delete: <a href="#r1"> 1 delete: </a> ]. The proposal is usually submitted via the chair of that WG. If the proposer [ delete: <a href="#r2"> 2 delete: </a> ] is not certain which WG is Chair of the relevant RIPE Working Group or via the RIPE Chair. insert: <br />
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The RIPE NCC identifies proposals with a number and publishes them in the appropriate for discussion of the proposal, they can send the proposal to the RIPE Chair at  delete: <a href="mailto:[email protected]"> [email protected] delete: </a> . In some cases, a proposal may need more than one WG’s input. In such cases, before the proposal is published, section of the relevant WG chairs will discuss the situation and decide the WG most suited to discussion of the proposal. Necessary announcements will be made to the other WG(s) so they can follow the discussions. delete: </p> delete: <p> The RIPE NCC gives each proposal its own unique identifier and publishes it on a dedicated RIPE webpage. This webpage contains working groups web pages. insert: </p>

The page will indicate the version history and the status of all proposals. A proposal can have one of the following statuses at any given time: proposals:

• delete: <strong> Open for Discussion: delete: </strong>  Meaning that the proposal is still being discussed within the RIPE PDP. delete: </li> delete: <li> delete: <strong> Accepted: delete: </strong>  Meaning that the RIPE community accepted the proposal after Discussion; insert: </li>
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• Agreed; or insert: </li>
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• Withdrawn. insert: </li>
insert: </ul>

The RIPE NCC will also maintain a web page with an overview of all stages of the RIPE PDP were completed. delete: </li> delete: <li> delete: <strong> Withdrawn: delete: </strong>  Meaning that the proposal is withdrawn either by the proposer or by the WG chairs at one of the decision-making points. delete: </li> delete: </ul> outstanding policy proposals. insert: </p>

2.2 Discussion Phase

Once a proposal is has been submitted, it is will be announced on the Policy Announce Mailing List ( a dedicated mailing list to which anybody can subscribe: [email protected] ), which anyone can subscribe to. . This announcement will also indicates indicate where discussion on the this proposal will take place. This is usually sent to Usually this will be the relevant WG working group mailing list. The WG insert: </p>

Where discussion leads to an amendment of a proposal, an amended proposal will be published highlighting the changes. If there is significant comment and change suggested there may be multiple iterations of this process. Each published revision of a proposal will contain a history of changes to document this process. insert: </p>

The Working Group chair sets the will set a limited time period for the Discussion Phase and this is at least discussion phase, not usually less than four weeks. delete: </p> delete: <p> At the end of the Discussion Phase, the proposer, with the agreement of the WG chair, decides whether the proposal will move to the next phase (Review Phase) or if it should be withdrawn from the RIPE PDP, depending on the feedback received. This should be done no more than four weeks after the end of the Discussion Phase. If the proposer does not communicate this decision to the WG chair within four weeks, the WG chair can withdraw the proposal due to lack of response from the proposer.  delete: </p> delete: <p> If significant comments or changes are suggested during the Discussion Phase, the proposer will edit the proposal and the new version of the proposal will be published. A new Discussion Phase will then start for the new version of the proposal.  delete: </p> delete: <p> If the suggested comments and changes are not so significant to require a new Discussion Phase, the proposer and WG chair can decide to move the proposal to the next phase (Review Phase) with a new version of the proposal incorporating the necessary edits.  delete: </p> delete: <p> Each version of the proposal is publicly archived to transparently show the history of changes to the proposal. delete: </p> delete: <p> If the proposer decides to take the proposal to the next phase, the draft RIPE Document should be prepared within four weeks. A policy proposal can result in the modification of an existing RIPE Document or can result in publication of a completely new RIPE Document. If the proposal is a modification of an existing policy or it is a new policy that needs to be documented in an existing RIPE Document, then a draft RIPE Document clearly pointing to the changes to the existing document will be published. If the proposal requires a completely new RIPE Document to be published, the draft should be produced before the proposal can be moved to the Review Phase.

2.3 Review Phase

The purpose of the Review phase is to review the full draft RIPE Document compiled at the end of the Discussion Phase so that the final documentation the proposal will lead to and all modifications made to that document are transparent to the community. During the Review Phase, Following the conclusion of the discussion of the proposal can continue and within the context of the proposal, further modifications can still be suggested regarding the draft RIPE Document. The Review Phase should last for a maximum of four weeks. delete: </p> delete: <p> At the end of the Review Phase, the WG chair phase, the RIPE Working Group Chair determines whether the WG working group has reached rough consensus. If the WG chair decides that consensus has not been reached, then the WG chair can proposer may decide to withdraw the proposal. Alternatively, the WG chair can send the proposal back to the Discussion Phase if the proposer is willing to continue to author the proposal and make the necessary changes to the proposal according to the feedback received from the community. The WG chair can also decide to a new round of discussion and documentation may occur. insert: </p>

The review phase will have the draft RIPE Document edited and start a new Review Phase with a new version of the proposal. a limited time period, but not more than four weeks.

2.4 Concluding Phase

If the WG chair When the RIPE Working Group Chair determines that the WG working group has reached consensus at the end of the Review Phase, the WG chair a consensus, s/he moves the proposal to a “Last Last Call for Comments” and the Concluding Phase starts. The Last Call period lasts four weeks. Comments. The Last Call announcement is also posted to the WG working group mailing list, the Last Call announcements mailing list and to the Policy Announce Mailing List ( delete: <a href="mailto:[email protected]"> [email protected] delete: </a> ). delete: </p> delete: <p> The purpose of this Last Call period is to provide the community with a final opportunity to comment on the proposal. This is mainly intended for those who missed the previous two phases and want to oppose the proposal. It gives time to the community after the relevant WG chair declares rough consensus at the end of the Review Phase so that suggestions for any final changes or objections to the proposal can be sent to the WG mailing list. At this stage, objections need to be justified just as in the other phases for them to be taken into account. delete: </p> delete: <p> Chairs of all working groups. At the end of the Last Call period, all RIPE WG the working group chairs as a group will evaluate the feedback received during this period and will decide together whether a consensus has been achieved. insert: </p>

The last call period will last four weeks. insert: </p>

If there is no feedback from the community at this stage, this is likely to be regarded as consensus and it will mean the previous call of rough consensus from the relevant WG chair at the end of the Review Phase still holds. delete: </p> delete: <p> If a consensus has been achieved, the RIPE NCC will announce the decision of the RIPE WG chairs and, Working Group Chairs and implement the policy, if necessary, implement the policy. needed.

If consensus has not been achieved, the RIPE WG chairs can decide to either withdraw the proposal or send it back to one of the previous phases. The achieved the proposer (or anyone else) is free to return the proposal to the WG working group for further discussion.  delete: </p> delete: <h2> References delete: <strong>   delete: </strong> delete: </h2> delete: <p> delete: <a id="1"> delete: </a> [1] The RIPE community has formed a number of working groups to deal with issues and topics affecting the Internet community. Every RIPE Working Group has at least one chair (some working groups may have co-chairs). They are responsible for chairing discussions in the working group and, where necessary, making decisions in the Policy Development Process. delete: </p> delete: <p> delete: <a id="2"> delete: </a> [2] A proposal can have more than one author. delete: </p> delete: <p>   discussion.

Appendix A: A - The Policy Development Process Diagram

delete: <img class="img-100" src="../../../resolveuid/9aff765ef5ce446a86fb0ee72b8b4692" alt="" data-linktype="image" data-scale="" data-val="9aff765ef5ce446a86fb0ee72b8b4692" /> delete: </p> delete: <p> delete: <strong> NOTE: delete: </strong>  The actual timelines of individual proposals may vary. They are documented and announced per proposal. delete: </p> delete: <p>   insert: <img class="img-100" src="../../../resolveuid/59cf005f268c4d81b5c3ab2a7da1fceb" alt="" data-linktype="image" data-scale="" data-val="59cf005f268c4d81b5c3ab2a7da1fceb" />

Appendix B: B - Policy Proposal Submission Template

1. Number (assigned by the RIPE NCC) Number: (The RIPE NCC will assign this)
2. Policy Proposal Name:
3. Author Details delete: <ol> delete: <li> Author: insert: <br />
   a. name: delete: </li> delete: <li> email: delete: </li> delete: <li> insert: <br />
   b. e-mail: insert: <br />
   c. organisation:
delete: </ol> delete: </li>
4. Proposal Version (assigned by the RIPE NCC): Version: (Usually this will be version 1.0 for a new submission)
5. Submission Date:
6. Suggested RIPE WG Working Group for discussion and publication:
7. Proposal Type: delete: <ol> delete: <li> type: insert: <br />
   a. new, modification modify, or deletion delete: </li> delete: </ol> delete.
8. Policy Term: delete: <ol> delete: <li> Temporary (time period) delete: </li> delete: <li> Indefinite delete: </li> delete: </ol> term: insert: <br />
   a. temporary, permanent, or renewable.
9. Summary of Proposal proposal:
10. Policy Text delete: <ol> delete: <li> text: insert: <br />
    a. Current Policy Text (if modification): delete: </li> delete: <li> New Policy Text: delete: </li> delete: </ol> modify): insert: <br />
    b. New:
11. Rationale: delete: <ol> delete: <li> insert: <br />
    a. Arguments supporting the proposal delete: </li> delete: <li> insert: <br />
    b. Arguments opposing the proposal