[address-policy-wg] Millions of Internet Addresses AreLyingIdle

On Oct 15, 2008, at 3:52 PM, Jeffrey A. Williams wrote:

>>      * Find space one thinks might be available
>>      * Figure out the contact for the space
>>      * Request the space from said contact
>>      * Handle cases where contact is unavailable or uncooperative
>>      * "Decontaminate" space for a while (optional but recommended)
>>      * Put space on the available list
>>
>> Someone has to do all of these tasks, and the timelines can be quite
>> long. I am *not* saying it is impossible, only that it is a lot more
>> work than what we have today. And that work is what will make it
>> expensive.
>
>  Much of the first two on your list are mostly already known.  The  
> forth
> is easy to handle, expose those that are not cooperating, and deny
> then further address space, even IPv6 unless or until they do  
> cooperate.
> These measures cost very little.  I have no idea what the fifth in  
> your
> list costs, but seems to me it would also be very little.


And how exactly is this already known ? I wouldn't trust whois data,  
especially not for the older pre-rir blocks to judge which is  
avalaible or whois is contact.

Or do you want to scan ? What do you do when somebody blackholes you,  
judge the addresses as available? How to handle any legal implications  
resulting from this scanning, which others see as network intrusion or  
at least handle all the 'stop scanning my network' complaints.

I personally don't think you can invent a 'reclaim system', your 20  
years late for it. I don't like the market as well, but I see it as  
the only easy way to push people into cleaning up and releasing  
addresses they don't need.

MarcoH