[AfriNIC-rpd] Updated Version of the "IPv4 Soft Landing Policy"now Available Online

[Owen DeLong]

On Feb 24, 2011, at 1:40 PM, David Conrad wrote:

> McTim,
> 
> On Feb 24, 2011, at 4:17 AM, McTim wrote:
>> I see this part of the policy as an anti-colonial bulwark protecting
>> African resources against plunder by well heeled corporates from the
>> other regions.  
> 
> I understand the good intentions, but how is this going to work exactly? As Owen has stated, "all policies depend almost entirely on the cooperative compliance of the community."  The "community" is largely made up of businesses that want to continue to serve customers/grow/make money/etc.  Policies that constrain those businesses from continuing to serve customers/grow/make money/etc. are likely to stress cooperative compliance. What I believe Andrew is suggesting is that the policy being discussed will set up a situation in which AfriNIC, cast as a regulator as opposed to a coordinator, will be at odds with (increasingly desperate) members of the community with vastly more resources than what AfriNIC can bring to bear.  I don't see how this scenario ends well.
> 
I won't pretend to speak for McTim, but, as I see it, this scenario ends no worse than the scenario where
AfriNIC gives permission for foreign entities to take resources from AfriNIC for use in other regions.
In this case, at least those non-African organizations that choose to abide by the wishes of the African
people to leave their (relatively small quantities) of IPv4 for use in their region will do so. Without this
clause, they would be free to take those resources by the consent of the African community.

I think it is best if the community expresses their intent, whether or not they are able to defend that intent
from outsiders.

Owen