Draft “RIR Governance Document” to Update ICP-2 Published
The Number Resource Organization Number Council (NRO NC) has published a draft version of a document that aims to update ICP-2: Criteria for Establishment of New Regional Internet Registries, titled “Governance Document for the Recognition, Maintenance, and Derecognition of Regional Internet Registries”.
In October 2023, the Number Resource Organization Executive Council (NRO EC) asked the NRO Number Council (NRO NC), that fulfils the role of the Address Supporting Organization Address Council (ASO AC), to establish and manage a process to update the Internet Coordination Policy (ICP-2): Criteria for Establishment of New Regional Internet Registries document. Modification of ICP-2 requires an open and transparent process to allow participation from across the global RIR and ICANN communities.
As part of this process, the NRO NC invited the global Regional Internet Registry (RIR) communities to provide feedback on each principle via a questionnaire, which was open from 8 October until 6 December 2024. On 24 February 2025, the NRO published a qualitative analysis and summary of the community responses received on the proposed principles to update ICP-2.
The updated criteria will continue to reflect the fundamental principles required for recognising and evaluating new RIRs in keeping with the Internet landscape of today. There is no intention to fundamentally change or redesign the existing RIR system. The focus of the review and revision process is to identify existing gaps and areas of improvement to support the continued stability and self-governance of the Internet Numbers Registry System. This includes expanding or adding details related to governance, ecosystem, life cycle, recognition and operation of RIRs. It also outlines principles for the potential ‘derecognition’ of an RIR if it fails to adhere to the established criteria.
The RIR and ICANN communities will also be invited to provide input on the draft “RIR Governance Document” until Tuesday, 27 May 2025.
Further information, including the timeline and process to update ICP-2 is available on the NRO website.