[address-policy-wg] DRAFT: allocating resources to the RIPE NCC

Dear all,

Please find below my first attempt at a policy for allocating resources
to the NCC. I think it should be a separate ripe document. Please let me
know what you think and where it needs some more polishing. I want to
publish the formal proposal soon, so the policy can potentially be
adopted well in time for the next RIPE meeting. 

Best,

Remco


Number:			(assigned by the RIPE NCC)
Policy Proposal Name:	Allocating resources to the RIPE NCC	 
Author: 
name:				Remco van Mook
email:			remco at eu.equinix.com
organisation:		Equinix

Proposal Version:		1.0

Submission Date:		TBD
	 
Suggested RIPE WG for discussion and publication: address policy
	 
Proposal Type:		new

Policy Term:		permanent
	
Summary of proposal: 
This proposal sets the way in which the RIPE NCC can get resources
allocated to itself.	 

Policy text: 	
Current (if modify):
none

New:

Abstract:
This document describes how the RIPE NCC can get resources allocated to
itself.

1.0 Introduction
The RIPE NCC is an independent association and serves as one of five
Regional Internet Registries (RIRs). Its service region incorporates
Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia. The RIPE NCC is responsible
for the allocation and assignment of Internet Protocol (IP) address
space, Autonomous System Numbers (ASNs) and the management of reverse
domain names within this region. 

1.1 Scope
This document describes the policy for allocating resources to the RIPE
NCC. This policy applies to all resources, current and future, allocated
to the RIPE NCC, its subsidiaries or affiliates. This document does not
describe any specific resource or a policy restricted to a specific
resource; it does however impact how the resource-specific policies
should be interpreted when applied to the RIPE NCC as the entity
requesting resources. This document does not describe or impact any
policy where it is applied to regular LIRs.

2.0 RIPE NCC as a resource-holder
Any resources allocated to the RIPE NCC will be registered in the RIPE
database under the LIR identity of 'eu.ripencc'. All policies set for
allocating resources to LIRs apply equally to the RIPE NCC. RIPE NCC as
a resource holder should fulfill the same basic requirements that are
also expected of normal LIRs, such as returning unused resources. Since
the RIPE NCC cannot sign a contract with itself, the requirement for an
explicit contract as set by various policies does not apply for this
particular case. While the RIPE NCC will still handle the administrative
tasks involved with allocating resources itself, it will not evaluate
the validity of their own requests. 

3.0 Pool of Arbiters
Defined in ripe-174, the pool of Arbiters has been appointed by the RIPE
NCC Executive Committee (and approved by the AGM). The arbiters function
is to mediate in a conflict between the RIPE NCC and one of its members.
In addition to executing the RIPE NCC Conflict Arbitration Procedure,
the pool of arbiters will also evaluate the validity of all requests for
resources made by the RIPE NCC. 

4.0 Evaluating a request
The evaluation of an allocation request made by the RIPE NCC will be
done by a team of at least 3 of the arbiters. The arbiters will respond
to any new request within one month. For the purpose of evaluating, the
request will be treated as if it was filed by a normal LIR. If the
request is approved, the resources will then be allocated by the RIPE
NCC and registered in the RIPE database.

5.0 Conflict resolution
Should the pool of arbiters reject a request, or if the request cannot
be granted by applying the standard LIR policies, the RIPE NCC can file
a request to the RIPE plenary meeting to have its case heard. It is then
up to the RIPE plenary to decide whether the request should be granted
or not. At no point can the RIPE NCC allocate resources to itself
without prior consent of either the pool of arbiters or the RIPE
plenary.



Rationale:
All resource-holders in the RIPE NCC service area are now being required
to have a contractual relationship with the RIPE NCC, directly or
indirectly. There is however one entity that cannot sign a contract with
the RIPE NCC - the NCC itself. This policy cleans up the current variety
in which the NCC has allocated resources to itself and sets a standard
way for the RIPE NCC to get further resources allocated. For all means
and purposes the RIPE NCC will be treated as a LIR and will follow the
same policies as a LIR; however the role the RIPE NCC has in analysing
and evaluating any request by an LIR is instead done by members of the
pool of arbiters.

Arguments supporting the proposal
Currently there is no standard way for the RIPE NCC to get resources
allocated. This has so far led to an inconsistent picture between the
various resource types; a lot of ad hoc policies and exemptions. This
needs to be cleaned up. One way to look at it is that every single
resource allocated to the RIPE NCC is a conflict of interest between the
RIPE NCC and ALL of its members. Therefore it makes sense that the same
people who arbitrate conflicts between RIPE NCC and its members evaluate
the requests for resources as filed by the RIPE NCC.


Arguments opposing the proposal 
None.


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