[address-policy-wg] Input Requested: How to Ensure Responsible ASN Resource Management

Marco Schmidt wrote on 08/06/2023 14:30:
> We also plan to intensify our ongoing project to clean up unused 
> Autonomous System (AS) Numbers [2]. Almost 2,000 unused ASNs have been 
> recovered as part of this work so far. Do you support our approach here? 
> And are there other ways we could improve the situation? Perhaps you 
> could add clarification on requesting and returning ASNs in the relevant 
> RIPE policy, or maybe we could give a stronger mandate and 
> responsibility to the sponsoring LIRs.

Hi Marco,

There are good reasons to clean up unused ASN16s, as they are 
categorised by policy as scarce resources. There isn't a compelling 
reason to get as excited about ASN32s, other than to say that normal 
good stewardship practices should apply.

Unfortunately there is a disconnect between RIPE policy and RIPE NCC 
practice in regard to charges for ASNs. This is a real shame because 
paying for resources is one of the simpler ways of creating positive 
pressure to return them if they're unused. The community would benefit 
from the board re-thinking this.

Nick