NIR criteria
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APNIC Document identity
Title: Criteria for the recognition of NIRs in the APNIC region
Short title: nir-criteria
Document ref: APNIC-104
Version: 001
Date of original publication: 1 December 2002
Date of this version: 1 December 2002
Review scheduled: n/a
Obsoletes: n/a
Status: Active
Comments: n/a
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Criteria for the recognition of NIRs in the APNIC region
About this document
-------------------
This document describes criteria for forming and recognising new
National Internet Registries (NIRs) in the Asia Pacific region. The
criteria are also intended to be adopted as standards that all
recognised NIRs should meet at all times.
1 Introduction
--------------------
Internet resources (such as IP addresses and Autonomous System
numbers) are currently distributed through a structure of delegated
Internet Registry responsibility. IANA allocates address space to
APNIC as a Regional Internet Registry (RIR). Address space is further
allocated by APNIC either to Local Internet Registries (LIRs) or to
NIRs. While LIRs are generally ISPs that assign addresses to their
own infrastructure and end-user networks, NIRs play a role which is
much more similar to that of an RIR, having responsibility for
allocation of address space to LIRs within their particular
geographic domain.
NIRs have long existed within the APNIC structure and have fulfilled
an important role in serving organisations within their respective
countries or economies. NIRs can satisfy the need for procedures and
services that take account of local cultural differences; however, it
is important to note that NIRs must operate in a way that is
consistent with regional and global resource management policies. It
is also essential that NIRs are neutral, open, and transparent in all
their operations.
A fundamental aspect of the NIR structure in the APNIC region is that
responsibilities which have been delegated to APNIC are partially
redelegated to another body, namely the NIR. The conduct of that NIR
in carrying out its delegated responsibilities may have serious
impact on the overall management of IP resources in the Asia-Pacific
region, and is therefore of critical ongoing interest to APNIC.
While not providing performance or quality criteria for NIRs, this
document does provide a number of technical and operational
requirements with which any new and existing NIRs should always
comply. These are objective criteria which are consistent with the
criteria by which RIRs themselves are recognised, and which have been
deemed by the Internet community globally[1] as essential to the
responsible management of Internet resources.
2 Principles
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2.1 Geographic service region
An NIR must operate within the borders of a particular
country or economy which is uniquely identified by an ISO3166
code. In each such country or economy only one NIR will be
recognised by APNIC.
2.2 Selection and recognition of NIR
The selection of a candidate NIR to serve a particular
country or economy is a matter for that community. It is not
possible for APNIC to select an NIR which satisfies the
preferences of any community, or to select between competing
candidates for recognition.
The recognition of a new NIR is a responsibility of the APNIC
Executive Council (EC) as representatives of the APNIC
Membership. A candidate NIR will be recognised by the EC in
accordance with the policies in this document.
2.3 Policy framework
All NIRs operate within the policy framework of the APNIC
region and of the wider global Internet community, and should
implement and enforce regional and global policies at all
times.
An NIR may implement local policies, however these should not
conflict in any way with regional or global policies. Any
substantial policy change proposed within an NIR�s community
should be brought to the APNIC community for approval through
existing open policymaking mechanisms.
2.4 Local procedures
NIRs are expected to implement operational procedures which
suit the specific conditions of the environment in which they
operate, and they should have maximum flexibility and
autonomy in the development of those procedures. However such
procedures must be consistent with APNIC operational
requirements, as detailed below.
2.5 Choice of registry by ISPs
ISPs in the service region of an NIR are not bound to use the
services of that NIR, and may choose to join and request
resources from APNIC. APNIC and each NIR must cooperate
fully in facilitating the free choice by ISPs of their
preferred Internet registry. However, an ISP may receive
resources from only one registry at any one time.
APNIC recognises that the applicable NIR should be the "first
choice" for any ISP requesting APNIC membership. APNIC will
always refer new membership queries to the NIR where it
exists, and will then only accept new membership from within
the NIR�s constituency where a specific reason and/or
preference is expressed.
2.6 Membership of APNIC
Each NIR must join APNIC as a member and enter into the
applicable membership agreement with APNIC.
3 NIR criteria
--------------------
3.1 National endorsement
An organisation wishing to be recognised as an NIR must have
formal endorsement at the national level by the appropriate
Government body.
3.2 Organisational model
3.2.1 Non-profit structure
An NIR must be an independent legal entity
established on a non-profit organisational structure.
3.2.2 Neutrality
An NIR must be able to demonstrate that it holds a
neutral position with respect to the Internet
industry that it serves. NIRs should not provide ISP
services to external entities on a commercial basis.
Furthermore, apart from securing appropriate Internet
connectivity, NIRs should not have any special
corporate or contractual relationship with any ISP
within their service region.
3.2.3 Funding
An NIR must be able to demonstrate a stable funding
model and funding base which will ensure sustainable
and reliable services.
3.2.4 Capacity
An NIR must have the organisational and technical
capacity to thoroughly implement all aspects of APNIC
address management policies at all times. While
operational procedures governing an NIR�s interaction
with APNIC are designed to provide appropriate
verification and audit mechanisms, the NIR must
nevertheless maintain the capacity to undertake those
procedures correctly, and to implement policies
faithfully.
3.3 Operational procedures
An NIR must satisfy all operational requirements deemed
necessary for it to carry out its delegated responsibilities.
These requirements relate to resource services provided by
the NIR to its members, procedures for interaction between
the NIR and APNIC, internal record keeping, database
registration, confidentiality, audit and appeal processes,
and other requirements which may be developed.
Operational requirements are not detailed here, but can be
found in the draft APNIC document "Operational Policies for
National Internet Registries in the APNIC Region"[2].
4 Recognition of new NIRs
-------------------------------
4.1 Responsibility
The recognition of new NIRs in accordance with this document
is a responsibility of the APNIC Executive Council (EC).
In the interests of openness and transparency however, the
APNIC EC will accept comments from any interested
stakeholders before making a final decision on recognition of
an NIR. For this reason, any such application submitted to
APNIC will be considered a public document and posted for
public review to the APNIC website.
The APNIC Secretariat will implement and maintain a system by
which a formal "Application for Recognition as an NIR" can be
submitted to the APNIC EC, published for comment, reviewed
and approved.
4.2 Change of recognised NIR
In order to be recognised as a new NIR in a country or
economy which already has a recognised NIR, the new
organisation must submit to APNIC an Application for
Recognition as an NIR.
Such an application will be accepted and reviewed by the
APNIC EC on the same basis as described in this document. In
particular, the application will have to demonstrate clearly
that the nationally-determined choice of NIR (as described in
3.1 above) has been altered.
4.3 Withdrawal of NIR recognition
The APNIC EC may decide to withdraw APNIC�s recognition of an
NIR, either because of demonstrated failure by that
organisation to adequately carry out its responsibility, or
as a result of recognition by APNIC of another organisation
as NIR for the country or economy concerned (as described in
section 4.2 above).
4.4 Dispute resolution
APNIC�s existing mechanisms for appeal of decisions and
resolution of disputes will apply to decisions in relation to
recognition of NIRs. For more information, please see the
APNIC Bylaws[3].
5 References
------------------
[1] http://www.icann.org/aso/emerging-rirs-01oct00.htm
[2] "Operational Policies for National Internet Registries in the
APNIC Region
http://www.apnic.net/docs/policies/operational-policies-nirs.html
[3] By-laws of APNIC, s.71 - s.81
http://www.apnic.net/docs/corpdocs/Bylaws.htm
