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DOCUMENT ID: NRO02
24 October 2003
Why can't the RIRs and ICANN sit down and discuss their differences?
Why are the RIRs trying to replace ICANN?
Does the NRO replace ICANN?
Does the NRO replace the ASO?
Why do we need another layer of bureaucracy?
If the NRO doesn't replace ICANN or the ASO or change anything in the current structure, what does it do?
Are open and accessible processes being used in the development of the NRO MoU and the ASO MoU?
Will this proposal dramatically change the relationship between ICANN and the RIRs?
Will the NRO MoU and the ASO MoU have any wide-ranging impacts on technical co-ordination, planning, and administration of addressing and numbering policy?
How transparent are the activities of the NRO Executive Council going to be?
How will the appeals process work?
How is the Advisory Appeals Panel formed?
Can the Advisory Appeals Panel be effective?
Will these documents will have long-lasting effects?
Why can't the RIRs and ICANN
sit down and discuss their differences?
The RIRs and ICANN have been very actively engaged in discussions. Both
parties have taken every opportunity to keep the dialogue open and ongoing.
These discussions have been constructive and productive and have included
face-to-face meetings as well as teleconferences.
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Why are the RIRs trying to
replace ICANN?
The RIRs are firmly committed to ICANN. Within the ICANN framework, the
RIRs have two objectives which they see as of great importance.
- Protection of the unallocated number resource
pool (IPv4, IPv6, and ASN). Access to the unallocated number resources
pool by the RIRs is controlled by global policy.
- Protection of the policy development process
so that policies cannot be imposed top down on the community. Neither
the ICANN Board nor any of the RIR Boards can impose policy.
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Does the NRO replace ICANN?
No. One of the functions that the NRO is intended to provide is to undertake,
if necessary, IANA number resource management. The NRO is not being structured
as a potential 'complete' ICANN replacement in the event of the failure
of ICANN. The consideration here was that in such an event it was considered
probable that the various IANA functions would be undertaken by those
with a direct interest in each particular functional area.
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Does the NRO replace the
ASO?
No. The NRO is a stand alone body that will negotiate the ASO MoU with
ICANN. Upon implementation certain aspects of the NRO will become part
of the ASO. For example, the NRO Numbers Council will become the ASO Address
Council. Other aspects, such as the Executive Council will not become
part of the ASO but will continue to represent the RIRs acting together.
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Why do we need another
layer of bureaucracy?
We don't! The NRO is not another layer of bureaucracy. Within this proposed
framework the essential elements of interaction between the RIRs and ICANN
remain unaltered. ICANN continues to operate the unallocated Internet
number resource registries. The Board of ICANN has the continued ability
to ratify proposed global number resource policies. An Address Council
continues to undertake a role as a source of advice to the Board of ICANN
on Number Resource matters, as well as directing proposed global address
policies through ICANN for ratification.
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If the NRO doesn't replace
ICANN or the ASO or change anything in the current structure, what does
it do? How does it change the relationship between ICANN and the RIRs?
The NRO is an interface for organizations outside of the RIRs to deal
directly with them at a single point instead of separately. For example
this allows ICANN to comment directly on non policy items such as the
ICANN budget and service contracts. Currently, ICANN must deal with each
individual RIR on such matters. The NRO provides a similar single interface
to the RIRs for other organizations, such as the IETF, on Internet number
resource administration issues.
The NRO also provides a visible framework for existing
joint RIR activities. Such activities include the administration of upper
level reverse DNS domains. Future activities of this nature will also
be undertaken within the framework of the NRO, such as a common whois
interface to RIR data.
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Are open and accessible processes
being used in the development of the NRO MoU and the ASO MoU?
In both cases, the NRO uses open and accessible policy processes. The
RIR Boards, exercising their policy process and statutory responsibilities,
have drafted two documents and have placed them in the public domain for
comment.
The RIRs are undertaking to organise the NRO for
the purpose of providing a structure to support the various inter-RIR
arrangements that have come about over the last three years. The comment
period is to gather any comments that the regional communities may have
about formalising existing practices.
In the case of the ASO MoU, after the regional community
comment period it will be presented to ICANN as a draft document for their
consideration. It is expected that there will be some negotiation between
ICANN and the NRO after which time the negotiated draft will again be
placed in the public domain. Of course anytime during this period any
one is more than welcome to comment.
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Will this proposal dramatically
change the relationship between ICANN and the RIRs?
Neither the NRO MoU nor the ASO MoU will dramatically change the relationship
between ICANN and the RIRs.
In the case of the NRO, it is intended to improve
the relationship, as ICANN will have a single consistent point of contact
for such matters as budget and service contracts.
In the case of the ASO MoU the biggest change is
additional protections for the bottom up policy process. The proposed
policy development process will prevent the ICANN board from exercising
a veto by direct action or by non-action on any policy proposal. It further
protects the process by preventing the ICANN board from making policy
and directing it down to the addressing community.
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Will the NRO MoU and the
ASO MoU have any wide-ranging impacts on technical co-ordination, planning,
and administration of addressing and numbering policy?
The NRO MoU and the ASO MoU will have impact in some areas, but it will
be only to strengthen the protection of the unallocated number resource
pool and the bottom up policy process.
Areas not changed:
- The bottom up policy process from the addressing
community to the RIR fora will not change.
- The bottom up policy process for global policy
from the addressing community to the ASO AC will not change.
- The administration of policy between the RIRs
and the community in their respective service regions will not change.
- The administration of addressing policy between
the IANA and the RIRs will not change.
Areas that will change under these proposals:
- The ICANN board will not be able to make and direct
top down addressing policy.
- The ICANN board will not be able to veto a global
policy proposal by direct or indirect means.
- Activities where the RIRs act together will be
strengthened by the formalising of an already existing relationship.
This will occur in such areas as policy harmonisation, technical coordination,
and planning.
- Activities such as technical co-ordination and
administration of policy where the IANA must interact jointly with the
RIRs will be simplified as the IANA will now have a single interface
point.
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How transparent are the
activities of the NRO Executive Council going to be?
Every meeting of the NRO Executive Council will be transparent as the
agenda and minutes of each meeting will be published.
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How will the appeals process
work?
The appeals process is an advisory process, designed to provide advice
in regards to the operation of policy process. It is not designed to decide
the merits of a policy, but rather, to examine the policy process. The
Advisory Appeals Panel (AAP) may hear complaints regarding the activities
of any or several RIRs, the NRO or and NRO sub-organization such as the
Numbers Council. The AAP may dismiss frivolous, repetitive or nuisance
complaints without further review. The AAP decision is intended to serve
as a persuasive advisory opinion and therefore it will not provide any
basis for legal action in any jurisdiction.
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How is the Advisory Appeals
Panel formed?
The Advisory Appeals Panel (AAP) will consist of one (1) member from each
RIR service region. They will be selected by the NRO Executive Council.
Members of the AAP cannot be an employee of an RIR nor a member of any
RIR Board. They will be selected based upon their knowledge of the Internet
community in general and the addressing community in particular. The AAP
will adopt such policies and procedures that are necessary to make it
an accessible, open, transparent, and documented. These policies and procedures
will include such things as voluntary or requested refusal of panel members,
procedures for reporting to the NRO Executive Council, and procedures
to address any allegation of fraudulent or dishonest conduct by panel
members.
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Can the Advisory Appeals
Panel be effective?
Yes. It is intended that the members of the Advisory Appeals Panel (AAP)
will be well known and respected members of the Internet community. Although
their decisions will carry no basis for legal action, it is anticipated
that their advice will be the product of a thorough and stringent process
of investigation and review and that any advice that the panel may provide
will be well grounded.
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Will these documents will
have long-lasting effects?
It is hoped that this is indeed the case. It is the intent of these documents
to put into place provisions that will protect the unallocated number
resource pool and the bottom up policy process thus contributing directly
to the security and stability of the Internet for years to come. It is
expected that as the Internet environment changes over time that these
documents may have to be revised, thus it is expected that they will be
reviewed from time to time.
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