Byron Holland's Perspectives on the Internet and Domain Space.

ARIN’s XXV Public Policy and Members Meeting

Posted by: Byron Holland

I am pleased that the American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN) will be holding their XXV Public Policy and Members Meeting in Toronto from April 18 to 21, 2010. If you are interesting in taking an active role in the policy development process behind the allocation and distribution of Internet Protocol (IP) addresses and Autonomous System Numbers (ASNs), this is your opportunity to do so.

ARIN is a Regional Internet Registry (RIR) based in Virginia, and provides the allocation, assignment, technical coordination, and management of Internet number resources for Canada, many Caribbean and North Atlantic islands, and the United States.

Everyone is welcome to attend the meeting at the InterContinental Toronto Centre. There are also remote participation options, such as a live streaming webcast and chat for much of the event.

The draft agenda for ARIN XXV is available online. Some of the discussion will focus on the policy issues of the depletion of IPv4 and uptake of IPv6 (a blog topic for me in the near future). The much larger IPv6 numbering system is meant to one day completely replace IPv4, but this will take many years. In the meantime, much of the Internet will run IPv4 and IPv6 simultaneously to ensure all users, regardless of the protocol version they are using, will be able to interact with all content on the Internet.

Another interesting topic up for discussion at ARIN XXV is Internet address management. The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) is currently studying the creation of an alternative International Internet Registry model to operate in parallel to the existing RIR model.  Such a change could impact how your organization obtains its IP number resources.

In addition to the Public Policy and Members Meeting, there will be a number of informative education sessions on Sunday, April 18. Topics include the Introduction to the Policy Development Process and the Open Policy Hour. Hosting Providers & ARIN will be an opportunity to discuss how web hosting-related Internet number resource policies meet, or fail to meet, the needs of the hosting community.

ARIN will also hold a First Timers’ Luncheon for those new to these meetings and the Policy Development Process.

I encourage you to take advantage of the fact that ARIN XXV is being held in Toronto. Please attend – make sure your voice is heard.

Do you plan to attend ARIN XXV in Toronto?

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