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prop-075-v001: Ensuring efficient use of historical AS numbers
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Author:    Guangliang Pan

Version:   1

Date:      24 July 2009


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

This is a policy proposal to recover unused historical AS numbers for
eventual reassignment to other APNIC account holders.


2. Definitions
--------------

Historical AS numbers:     Historical resources AS numbers that were
                           registered under early registry policies
                           without formal agreements. For more 
                           information, see section 2 of "Policies for
                           historical Internet resources in the APNIC 
                           Whois Database" [1].

Unused AS numbers:         Any AS number which has not appeared in the
                           global routing tables for some specified
                           period of time, as determined by the Routing
                           Information Service (RIS) or other agreed
                           means.


3.  Summary of current problem
------------------------------

APNIC has 115 historical AS numbers which transfered to APNIC during the
Early Registry Transfer (ERX) project. The full list is available from:

    http://www.apnic.net/erx


Currently, around 45% of the historical AS numbers registered in the
APNIC Whois Database do not appear in the global routing tables.
Assuming these AS numbers remain unused, these AS numbers
could be made available for redistribution to other networks.

While APNIC has the ability to reclaim unused AS numbers assigned under
current policies [2], there is no equivalent policy for historical AS
numbers.

In 2004, to help address the decreasing size of the unallocated IPv4
pool, the APNIC community adopted a policy to recover unused
historical IPv4 addresses:

    http://www.apnic.net/policy/proposals/prop-017

This proposal would allow a similar mechanism to exist for historical AS numbers.


4.  Situation in other RIRs
---------------------------

No similar policy exists in other regions.


5.  Details of the proposal
---------------------------

It is proposed that APNIC recover and reassign historical AS numbers
that have not been used for a reasonable period of time.

Please see Appendix A for the administrative procedure that would be
used to carry out this policy.


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

6.1 Advantages

    This proposal would release unused AS numbers back into the
    unassigned pool.


6.2 Disadvantages

    This proposal would result in a minor increase in the workload
    of APNIC hostmasters.


7.  Effect on APNIC members
---------------------------

There is no direct impact to normal APNIC members.


8.  Effect on NIRs
------------------

NIRs are encouraged to help APNIC reclaim unused historical AS numbers
within their economies.


9.  References
---------------

[1] "Policies for historical Internet resources in the APNIC Whois 
    Database"
    http://www.apnic.net/policy/historical-resource-polices.html

[2] Section 8, Return of unused ASNs, "Policies for Autonomous System
    number management in the Asia Pacific region"
    http://www.apnic.net/asn-policy#8
    
    
    
    
10. Appendix A: Administrative procedure for historical AS number
    reclamation    
-----------------------------------------------------------------

    1. The APNIC Secretariat will identify unused historical AS numbers
        and generate a list.


    2. The APNIC Secretariat will notify organizations responsible for 
       unused historical AS numbers by all available means and contact
       the associated NIR if applicable.
    
       The APNIC Secretariat will use all available contact details from
       APNIC records. Responses will be tracked using dedicated return
       email addresses and APNIC's request tracking system.


    3. Responses to these notifications will be handled using one of
       three possible options:

       A. If a response is received and AS number holder agrees to
          return the AS number:

          - The AS number will be reclaimed.


       B. If a response is received and AS number holder does not agree
          to return the AS number:

          - The holder retains the AS number.
          - All future handling of the historical AS number
            will be guided by the "Policies for historical Internet
            resources in the APNIC Whois Database"[1] at:

            http://www.apnic.net/policy/historical-resource-polices.html


       C. If no response is received after 3 contacts in 3 months (or if
           only error responses or bounces are received):

            - The AS number will be reclaimed. 


    4. All reclaimed AS numbers will be removed from public APNIC Whois
       Database and kept in the APNIC unallocated pool for 12 months 
       before redistribution to other networks.