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prop-072: Reapplication limits when transferring address space
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Author:    Philip Smith
           pfs@cisco.com

Version:   1

Date:      10 March 2009

1.  Introduction
----------------

This policy proposal seeks to supplement prop-050, "IPv4 address
transfers", by not permitting organisations who have transferred IPv4
address from obtaining more address space from APNIC for a period of 24
months after the transfer.


2.  Summary of current problem
------------------------------

Prop-050, "IPv4 address transfers", as it stands at time of writing,
places no restriction on the organisation transferring IPv4 address
space to return to APNIC for additional IPv4 address space.

This gives organisations the opportunity to transfer their IPv4
address space to another organisation, and return to APNIC almost
immediately with a fully justified application for additional
resources. This means that organisations could rapidly deplete the
remaining IPv4 pool, to the detriment of the entire industry during
the IPv4 runout period.


3.  Situation in other RIRs
---------------------------

RIPE NCC

   The transfer policy adopted by RIPE only places no limits on any
   organisation transferring address space to a third party from going
   back to the RIPE NCC for further IPv4 address space. See:

      http://www.ripe.net/ripe/policies/proposals/2007-08.html


ARIN

  The transfer policy notes that transfers of address space between
  organisations are only considered if the originating organisation has
  made a complete transfer of assets to the recipient (such as a
  liquidation of the originating organisation). See:

    http://www.arin.net/policy/proposals/2007_8.html


LACNIC 

  LACNIC is currently discussing a transfer proposal:

    LAC-2009-04 Transfer of IPv4 Blocks within the LACNIC Region
    http://www.lacnic.net/documentos/politicas/LAC-2009-04-propuesta-en.pdf


AfriNIC has no transfer policy.


4.  Details of the proposal
---------------------------

It is proposed that organisations disposing of their space using
the transfer policy described in prop-050, "IPv4 address
transfers", are not eligible for APNIC IPv4 assignments and/or
allocations for two years.


5.  Advantages and disadvantages of the proposal
------------------------------------------------

5.1 Advantages

    - Organisations transferring address space to third parties can
      not go back to APNIC and request additional IPv4 address space
      for a period of 24 months.  This prevents organisations from
      making frequent and repeated requests to APNIC, and then
      transferring the address space elsewhere.

5.2 Disadvantages

    - None.


6.  Effect on APNIC Members
---------------------------

The proposal impacts all APNIC members in that they now cannot receive
more address space from the APNIC free pool for a full 24 months after
they have made a transfer to another organisation.


7.  Effect on NIRs
------------------

The proposal has no direct impact on NIRs, but impacts members of NIRs
in the same way it impacts APNIC members.