[address-policy-wg] Inter-RIR love as we approach IPv4 Stunde Null, was Re: [address-policy-wg] what to do about 2009-01?

Sascha,

On 2010-04-14 13:40, Sascha Lenz wrote:
> 
> Having said that - i still want to mention that i PERSONALLY (not
> professionally!) still don't see why we need any of those
> last-minute-IPv4-policy-changes at all. Just let it [IPv4] die already.
> (Again, please no discussions on this here, it's not my professional
> opinion anyways)

In the case of this particular policy I kind of agree. I don't expect a
lot of reclaimed space to appear as we approach and pass various
milestones in IPv4 allocation (IANA done, first RIR done, and so on).
There has been HUGE amount of discussion based on what seems to me to be
largely a hypothetical situation.

But...

I do think this points to an area of possible concern. I have often
thought that as IPv4 resources become more limited, people are going to
start having problems. (What do you mean I can't have a /18 for my new
POP?) At that point, questions will be raised. (Why wasn't I told?! Why
didn't somebody *do* something?!?!) Fingers will be pointed. (Who's
fault is this?!?!?!) People or organizations with little familiarity
about the Internet and its governance will step in, either of they want
to or because their constituents demand it.

Certainly for local policies, each RIR can and should operate in local
best interest. But for global policies, the RIRs should work together.
If the Internet hopes to maintain its limited self-regulation, then the
various policy making bodies *need* to stand together.

I probably shouldn't mention it, but honestly ARIN has always been the
"odd man out" from the RIRs. This is partially historical, since ARIN in
in some ways old (coming from InterNIC) and in other ways new (arriving
later than the RIPE NCC and APNIC). I think it is also partially because
ARIN is very US-focused, rather than serving the interests of a broad area.

So it won't surprise me if ARIN is the first to reject global policies
to pursue local interests. I do know that it would make life generally
more difficult for organizations on the Internet (for example, by
complicating inter-regional address transfer). What I do not know is how
to avoid a rift between the RIRs, or minimize the harm such a rift causes.

--
Shane