AS number revokes

Hi,

 "Stephen Burley" <stephenb at uk.uu.net> writes:
 * Hi
 *     I am a bit concerned about an email we recieved threatening the
 * revokation of an assigned AS number if it did not appear to be used. It
 * concerns me for a number of reasons.
 * 
 * 1. Our customer has had problems with other providers and there own network,
 * which has postponed the intended use of the AS for quite a few month, all
 * due to things out of their and our control.

This can always happen and we do ask several times for information before
mentioning the option of returning an assigned AS number which appears not
to be in use. The first time we ask is 6 months after the assignment. 

 * 2. If you do revoke it then the customer may suddenly get things fixed and
 * start using the AS as intended but in the meantime you assign it to another
 * customer and the problems ensue. If you do not assign it why whould you ask
 * for it back?

If you do not use it why should you keep it? :)
Our intention is to make sure AS numbers are used and not wasted.

We send several reminders asking about the status and this process is
taking a couple of months. If you are not able to start using the AS
number after a long time we ask you to return it. To date the RIPE NCC 
Hostmasters could always find an agreement with the LIRs to return AS 
numbers that appeared not to be in use.

We do reassign returned AS numbers *not* straight away but after a certain
time period ("sleeping time") and ...
 
 * 3. Just because an AS does not appear in the looking glass does not mean
 * that its not being used in situation which does not mean it does not need to
 * be announced at any looking glass.

... we do not only use the Looiking Glass to find the number of peers. We look
back in time at least on several days using 'asiuse' - publicly know as the 
RIS Database, from New Projects. 

 * Please could you clarify this situation?
 *
 * Regards
 * Stephen Burley
 * UUNET EMEA Hostmaster
 * SB855-RIPE
 * 


Regards,

Sabrina Wilmot 

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| Sabrina Wilmot          sabrina at ripe.net |
| Registration Services Operations Manager |
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