[address-policy-wg] moratorium on IPv4 allocations when the last /8 goes

On 25 Aug 2009, at 09:31, <michael.dillon at bt.com> wrote:

> The policy to implement this would call for RIPE to halt all IPv4
> allocations when IANA issues the final /8, analyze the current  
> situation, publish a runout date and monthly run-rate for the RIPE  
> region, and then call for applications.

I can't see this ever flying with the membership.

Suppose this hypothetical policy was in force. An LIR has a business  
need for more IPv4 after this moratorium applied. At that point the  
NCC is sitting on a stockpile of addresses but isn't handing them out.  
What will the LIR do?
	(a) sit back and politely wait an indefinite but probably long time  
until some analysis is done and the AP WG arrives at a consensus on  
how the remaining stockpile is to be managed;
	(b) reach for its lawyers
	(c) complain to government/regulator about restraint of trade, anti- 
competitive behaviour, unfair markets, etc.

Somehow I can't see an LIR doing (a). Even if this was the best  
solution from a global perspective -- tragedy of the commons and all  
that -- it seems unlikely the LIR will sit on its hands while it loses  
customers to another LIR that has IPv4 space available.