[AFRINIC-Announce] IANA Oversight Transition Completed

[AFRINIC Communication]

 Dear Colleagues,

On 1 October 2016, the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) functions contract between the United States Department of Commerce National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) expired  <http://www.ntia.doc.gov/press-release/2016/statement-assistant-secretary-strickling-iana-functions-contract>, representing the final step in a two-year, multistakeholder-driven process. Oversight of the IANA functions is now in the hands of the communities that rely directly on these services - the Names, Numbers and Protocol Parameter communities.

"This is an important milestone in the evolution of Internet governance," commented Alan Barrett, CEO AFRINIC. "It was anticipated in 1998 when ICANN was created, and it has now been achieved through more than two years of work by many dedicated people in the global multistakeholder community. I’d particularly like to thank those who drafted proposals, those who commented on draft proposals, and those who approved the final proposals.”

Business As Usual 

ICANN is now responsible for performing the IANA Numbering Services, which includes assigning IP address space and Autonomous System Numbers (ASNs) to the five Regional Internet Registries (RIRs) and related administrative tasks. ICANN, with consent from the RIRs, has sub-contracted these services to a newly-formed subsidiary called Public Technical Identifiers (PTI). AFRINIC members, other RIR members and end users around the world will not experience any operational differences as a result of the oversight transition.

Moving Forward

A Service Level Agreement (SLA ) <https://www.nro.net/wp-content/uploads/ICANN-RIR-SLA-signature25May16.pdf>) between the RIRs and PTI defining expectations came into effect on 1 October. Further, the IANA Numbering Services Review Committee, selected by the RIR communities, will support the NRO Executive Council when it conducts periodic reviews of IANA's services. AFRINIC has appointed  <afrinic.net/en/library/news/1839-afrinic-appointments-to-iana-numbering-services-review-committee->  the following people to the Review Committee:

- Fiona Asonga (community representative, until 31 December 2016).
- Douglas Onyango (community representative, until 31 December 2017).
- Madhvi Gokool (staff representative, until further notice).
 
More Information 

- General information about the IANA Oversight Transition. <https://www.icann.org/stewardship-accountability>
- Service Level Agreement (SLA)  <https://www.nro.net/news/icann-and-regional-internet-registries-sign-sla-for-the-iana-numbering-services>) for the IANA Numbering Services.
- Letter <https://www.nro.net/wp-content/uploads/NRO-ICANN-SLA-Letter.pdf>  from Goran Marby, President and CEO ICANN, stating that the SLA for the IANA Numbering Services is now in effect.
- NTIA statement  <http://www.ntia.doc.gov/press-release/2016/statement-assistant-secretary-strickling-iana-functions-contract>  that the contract between ICANN and NTIA has expired.
- The Consolidated RIR IANA Stewardship Proposal (CRISP  <https://www.nro.net/nro-and-internet-governance/iana-oversight/consolidated-rir-iana-stewardship-proposal-team-crisp-team>)Team.
- IANA Stewardship Transition Coordination Group (ICG <http://www.ianacg.org/>).
- The IANA Numbering Services Review Committee Charter  <https://www.nro.net/wp-content/uploads/Review-Committee-Charter_FINALclean.pdf>.
- 2014 Announcement from NTIA  <http://www.ntia.doc.gov/press-release/2014/ntia-announces-intent-transition-key-internet-domain-name-functions>  on the intent to transition oversight of the key Internet domain name functions.

AFRINIC Communication