ARIN 53: Overview and Policy Discussions

The ARIN 53 meeting, held from April 15-17, 2024, was a comprehensive event that brought together stakeholders to discuss various aspects of internet governance, policy updates, and organizational initiatives. Here are the key highlights from the event:

Day 1

The meeting began with updates on financial performance and policy activities. Nancy Carter, the Board Treasurer, provided a financial report, noting favorable performance in investments and a steady financial position for ARIN. Bill Sandiford, the Board Chair, discussed the Board of Trustees’ activities and the expected standards of behavior for ARIN participants.

The Advisory Council (AC) Chair, Kat Hunter, presented updates on policy activities and welcomed new AC members. A keynote address by Brent Mc Intosh from Grenada emphasized the importance of digital infrastructure in the Caribbean region, particularly focusing on IPv6 and Internet exchange points (IXPs). Mc Intosh highlighted how these advancements are essential for improving internet performance, reducing costs, and enhancing regional connectivity, ultimately fostering economic growth and development in the Caribbean.

Day 2

Security and routing were major themes, with Chief Information Security Officer Christian Johnson discussing security goals and compliance initiatives, including SOC 2 certification for ARIN Online. Brad Gorman presented on routing security, highlighting ARIN’s RPKI services and upcoming features.

Reports from ARIN Community Grant recipients showcased innovative projects, such as the “Open Source RegCtl & PrefixCtl” by Chris Grundemann, aimed at improving Registration Data Access Protocol and Route Origin Authorization information management. Updates from other Regional Internet Registries (RIRs) provided a global perspective on internet governance and security.

Day 3

The final day featured departmental updates and a focus on community engagement. Hollis Kara, Director of Communications, highlighted upcoming projects, including a new training platform and the retirement of SWIP email templates. Chief Financial Officer Brian Kirk and Chief Human Resources Officer Erin Alligood presented updates on financial services and HR initiatives, respectively.

The meeting concluded with a presentation on the Fellowship and Grant programs by Amanda Gauldin, followed by an open mic session where participants praised ARIN’s initiatives and discussed future outreach efforts.

Keynote Presentation: Building and Sustaining Caribbean Digital Infrastructure with IXPs and IPv6 Technologies

Brent Mc Intosh from Grenada’s National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission presented “Building and Sustaining Caribbean Digital Infrastructure with IXPs and IPv6 Technologies.” He emphasized the critical need for robust digital infrastructure in the Caribbean, highlighting how Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) and IPv6 adoption can improve internet performance, reduce costs, and enhance regional connectivity, fostering economic growth and development.

Policy Discussions and Resolutions

Policy Block 1

• ARIN-2023-1: Retire 4.2.1.4. Slow Start

• Presenter: Kaitlyn Pellak
• Description: This policy aimed to retire section 4.2.1.4, known as the “Slow Start” policy, which was designed to limit the rate of IPv4 allocations. It had become obsolete due to the exhaustion of the IPv4 pool and the introduction of transfer policies.
• Resolution: The policy was moved to the final stages of approval, indicating community consensus on its retirement as it no longer served a practical purpose.

• ARIN-2023-4: Modernization of Registration Requirements

• Presenter: Daniel Schatte
• Description: This policy proposed updates to registration requirements to reflect modern needs and practices in IP address management.
• Resolution: Advanced through community discussions and was positioned for further refinement based on feedback.

• ARIN-2022-12: Direct Assignment Language Update

• Presenter: Doug Camin
• Description: This policy aimed to clarify the language around direct assignments to ensure clear and consistent application.
• Resolution: Received positive feedback and was slated for final review and implementation.

• ARIN-2024-1: Definition of Organization ID/Org ID

• Description: This policy sought to standardize the definition and use of Organization IDs in ARIN’s database.
• Resolution: Progressed towards adoption following community input and advisory council recommendations.

Policy Block 2

ARIN-2023-5: Clean-up of NRPM Sections 4.3.4, 4.4, 4.10 and 6.10.1

• Presenter: Alison Wood
• Description: This policy focused on the cleanup and clarification of specific sections of the Number Resource Policy Manual (NRPM).
• Resolution: Approved for implementation after detailed review and discussion.

ARIN-2023-7: Clarification of NRPM Sections 4.5 and 6.11 Multiple Discrete Networks

• Presenter: Chris Woodfield
• Description: This policy aimed to clarify requirements for organizations operating multiple discrete networks.
• Resolution: Successfully moved through the policy development process with community and advisory council support.

ARIN-2023-6: ARIN Waitlist Qualification

• Presenter: Alicia Trotman
• Description: This policy proposed modifications to the criteria for qualifying for the ARIN waitlist for IPv4 addresses.
• Resolution: Advanced with strong community backing, addressing concerns about fairness and transparency.

ARIN-2023-8: Reduce 4.1.8 Maximum Allocation

• Presenter: Gerry George
• Description: This policy suggested reducing the maximum allocation size for IPv4 addresses to better manage the remaining address space.
• Resolution: Gained consensus for adoption, aligning with the community’s goals for equitable resource distribution.

1. ARIN-2024-2: WHOIS Data Requirements Policy for Non-Personal Information

• Description: This policy aimed to update WHOIS data requirements to protect personal information while maintaining transparency for non-personal data.
• Resolution: Approved for final implementation, reflecting best practices for privacy and data management.

Overall, ARIN 53 was a productive event that fostered significant discussions on policy, security, and community involvement, setting a strong foundation for future ARIN activities and collaborations. For more detailed information, you can refer to the full recaps available on the ARIN website.