[CRISP-TEAM] Additional questions from the ICG on the numbers proposal

[Alan Barrett]

Here are some of my thoughts on the additional queastions.


> II.B.2. If the policy sources identified in Section II.A are 
> affected, identify which ones are affected and explain in what 
> way.
>
> Question1:
> What specifically is the “element of oversight” which is 
> referred to in this section, and how is it to be replaced under 
> this proposal?

The element of oversight that the NTIA provides for the IANA 
Numbering Services is the ability to change the contract with 
ICANN.

This is stated in the the very next paragraph of the CRISP 
proposal (the last parwithgraph of section III.B.2), immediately 
after the sentence that says "it would remove a significant 
element of oversight":

   ICANN has historically provided IANA Numbering Services via
   the IANA Number Registries under the terms of the NTIA IANA
   Functions contract, and therefore IANA Numbering Services for
   the RIRs are currently subject to change in accordance with
   that agreement.

Section II.B.3.i expands on this:

   ICANN, as the current IANA Numbering Services Operator, is
   obligated by the NTIA agreement to manage the IANA Number
   Registries according to policies developed by the Internet
   Number Community.

   Although the IANA operator escalation and reporting mechanisms
   are public in nature, the NTIA has an oversight role in the
   provision of the services through its contract with ICANN. The
   ultimate consequence of failing to meet the performance
   standards or reporting requirements is understood to be a
   decision by the contracting party (the NTIA) to terminate
   or not renew the IANA Functions Agreement with the current
   contractor (ICANN).

> III.A. The elements of this proposal
> Question2:
> How will the Review Committee be established, how will it 
> operate, and how is it related to any other ICANN-related review 
> committees?

2a: How will the Review Committee be established?

The Review Committee will be established by the RIRs, there will 
be equal representation from each RIR region, and members will be 
selected in an open, transparent, and bottom-up manner appropriate 
for each RIR region.

This is explained in section III.A.4 of the CRISP proposal:

   The RIRs shall establish a Review Committee [...].

   The Review Committee should be a team composed of suitably
   qualified Internet Number Community representatives from each
   RIR region. The selection of the Review Committee members
   should be conducted in an open, transparent, and bottom-up
   manner appropriate for each RIR region. There should be
   equal representation from each RIR region within the Review
   Committee.

2b: How will the Review Committee operate?

The Review Committee will review the level of service provided by the
IANA Numbering Services Operator (which will initially be ICANN), and
will report any concerns to the NRO EC.  The Review Committee will not
do anything else.  The Review Committee's activities will be conducted
in an open and transparent manner.

This is explained in section III.A.4 of the CRISP proposal:

   The RIRs shall establish a Review Committee that will advise
   and assist the NRO EC in its periodic review. The Review
   Committee will, as needed, undertake a review of the level of
   service received from the IANA Numbering Services Operator and
   report to the NRO EC any concerns regarding the performance
   of the IANA Numbering Services Operator, including especially
   any observed failure or near-failure by the IANA Numbering
   Services Operator to meet its obligations under the proposed
   agreement. Any such Review Committee will advise the NRO EC
   in its capacity solely to oversee the performance of the
   IANA Numbering Services, and the Review Committee's advice
   and comment will be limited to the processes followed in the
   IANA Numbering Services Operator's performance under the
   proposed agreement. Activities of the Review Committee shall be
   conducted in an open and transparent manner. Reports from the
   Review Committee shall be published.

2c: How is the Review Committee related to ny other ICANN-related
review committees?

It is not related to any other committees.

> Question3:
> Given the stated need for “communication and coordination” 
> between the communities, how is this to be achieved under this 
> proposal?

This question seeme to refer to the last paragraph of section 
III.A of the CRISP proposal:

   This proposal assumes that specific IANA customers (i.e., the
   number community, the protocol parameter community, and the
   name community) will have independent arrangements with
   the IANA Functions Operator related to maintenance of the
   specific registries for which they are responsible. At the
   same time, the Internet Number Community wishes to emphasize
   the importance of communication and coordination between these
   communities to ensure the stability of the IANA services. Such
   communication and coordination would be especially vital
   should the three communities reach different decisions
   regarding the identity of the IANA Functions Operator after
   the transition. Efforts to facilitate this communication and
   coordination should be undertaken by the affected communities
   via processes distinct from this stewardship transition
   process.

In the event that all three communities (numbers, protocol 
parameters, and names) choose the same IANA operator, then we 
expect that minimal coordination will be required.  In the event 
that different IANA operators are chosen by different communities, 
then significant coordination may be required to ensure stability.

The CRISP proposal does not specify how such coordination might 
take place, it merely records that coordination may be necessary.

--apb (Alan Barrett)