Process for the review of ICP-2 and Timeline

Background

In November 2023, the Number Resource Organization Executive Council (NRO EC) requested that the Address Supporting Organization Address Council (ASO AC) review and consider improvements to Internet Coordination Policy 2: Criteria for Establishment of New Regional Internet Registries (ICP-2). Because ICP-2 was not developed through the policy development process of the RIRs nor does it fit within the definition of a Global Policy (as defined in the ASO MoU), the ASO AC has designed the following process to guide the review of ICP-2. 

The ASO AC believes the modification of ICP-2 requires an open and transparent consultation process to allow participation from across the global Internet community.

Process for the Review

1. Review of ICP-2 – completed (Q1 and Q2 2024)

  • The ASO AC reviewed the existing ICP-2 document for relevance and accuracy in reflecting the current operational and governance requirements of RIRs.

2. Preparation of Principles – completed (Q2 and Q3 2024)

  • Following the review, the ASO AC identified the core requirements for RIRs in a set of principles (“Principles”).
  • The Principles were used as the foundation for drafting an update of ICP-2.
  • The ASO AC sought input and feedback from the NRO EC on the Principles.
  • The ASO AC presented the Principles for community consultation.

Outcome: The Proposed ICP-2 Version 2 Principles document

3. Community Input on Draft Principles  – completed (Q4 2024)

  • In order to gauge community  sentiment on the Principles, the ASO AC created a questionnaire to solicit:
    • Quantitative feedback: Allowing a numeric or scaled response to each principle.
    • Qualitative feedback: Allowing open-ended feedback on each principle as well as an additional section for recommendations on additional principles and overarching feedback.
  • The questionnaire was made available through the NRO website, and ICANN hosted a public comment period using their established processes.

4. Feedback Review – completed (Q4 2024 and Q1 2025)

  • The ASO AC reviewed all questionnaire feedback received, focusing on both quantitative and qualitative responses.
  • The feedback was analysed to gauge a range of views and concerns within the communities. 
  • All feedback was made public to promote transparency in the review process. The ASO AC also produced a report with a summary of the feedback received. Based on the analysis of the feedback, the ASO AC reflected any amendments in a revised document, as described in section 5.

Outcome: ICANN Public Comment Report and  ICP-2 Principles Questionnaire Report

5. Drafting the Document –  completed (Q1 and Q2 2025)

  • The ASO AC developed a draft of the revised ICP-2 (“Draft Document”) reflecting the review of the questionnaire feedback, as described in section 4.

Outcome: Draft document “Governance Document for the Recognition, Maintenance, and Derecognition of Regional Internet Registries” (RIR Governance Document)

6. First Round – Community Feedback on the Draft RIR Governance Document – Completed (Q2 2025)

  • The Draft RIR Governance Document was made available to the global Internet community and presented to each RIR community, as well as the ICANN community for discussion from 14 April until 27 May 2025
  • An overview of the outreach and engagement activities is available here.
  • The community engagement methods:
  • The ASO AC also conducted an ICANN Public Comment in this phase.

7. Second Round – Community Feedback on revised Draft RIR Governance Document – Completed (Q3 and Q4 2025)

  • The ASO AC discussed the feedback from the RIR communities and the ICANN public comment process on the draft document.
  • Any further edits considered necessary by the ASO AC was reflected in the amended document.
  • The ASO AC published and presented the amended draft, including a redline and a change rationale document, for review to the RIR and ICANN communities at the following meetings:
    • APNIC 60: 4-11 September, Da Nang, Vietnam
    • Africa Internet Summit: 29 September – 3 October September, Accra, Ghana
    • LACNIC 44: 6-10 October, San Salvador, El Salvador
    • RIPE 91: 20-24 October, Bucharest, Romania
    • ICANN 84: 25-30 October, Dublin, Ireland
    • ARIN 56: 30-31 October, Arlington, USA
  • The second consultation closed on 7 November and the ASO AC met in November 2025 to discuss the comments received from the RIR communities and the ICANN public comment. 
  • Outcome: RIR Governance Document Version 2 Consultation Community Input Report

8. Status Report and drafting of final version of RIR Governance Document – In process (Q1 and Q2 2026)

Pending (Q1-Q2) 2026

  • The ASO AC will publish a list of open issues, which will inform updates to the next version of the RIR Governance Document. These will be presented at the following meetings:
    • APNIC 61: 4-12 February, Jakarta, Indonesia
    • ICANN 85: 7-12 March, Mumbai, India
    • ARIN 57: 19-22 April, Louisville, USA
    • LACNIC 45: 11-14 May, Guadalajara, Mexico
    • RIPE 92: 18-22 May, Edinburgh, Scotland
    • AFRINIC meeting: TBC

9. Drafting Final Version of RIR Governance Document – In process (Q3 and Q4 2026)

  • Once the ASO AC is satisfied, their recommended document will be delivered to the NRO EC for its consideration.
  • The ASO AC will finalise the updates to the RIR Governance Document with the final version presented at the following meetings:
    • APNIC 62: 3-10 September, Mumbai, India
    • LACNIC 46: 5-9 October, TBC
    • ICANN 87: 17-22 October, Muscat, Oman
    • ARIN 58: 22-28 October, Miami, USA
    • RIPE 93: 26-30 October, Sofia, Bulgaria

10. Approval and Adoption – Q4 2026

  • The NRO EC and ICANN will determine the procedures for approval and adoption

Timeline

Process Timeline Status Outcome
Review of ICP-2 Q1 and Q2 2024 Completed
Preparation of Principles Q2 and Q3 2024 Completed The Proposed ICP-2 Version 2 Principles document
Community Input on Draft Principles Q4 2024 Completed
Feedback Review Q4 2024 and Q1 2025 Completed ICANN Public Comment Report


ICP-2 Principles Questionnaire Report
Drafting the Document Q1 and Q2 2025 Completed Draft “Governance Document for the Recognition, Maintenance, and Derecognition of Regional Internet Registries”
Community Feedback on the Draft Document (First Round) Q2 2025 Completed Mailing Lists
Session Recordings
Second Round Review Q3 2025 Completed
Community Feedback on the Draft Document (Second Round)
 Q3 2025 Completed

Mailing Lists

Community Engagements
Feedback Review Q4 2025 – Q1 2026  In Progress Second Round Summary of Feedback
Updating the document Q1 – Q3 2026 In Progress
Approval and Adoption Q4 2026 Upcoming

 



Last modified on 02/02/2026