[AfriNIC-rpd] AFPUB-2012-GEN-001-DRAFT-01

[Jean Robert Hountomey]

Unique identifier: AFPUB-2012-GEN-001-DRAFT-01
Draft Policy Name: AfriNIC Whois Database Clean-up
Author: Jean Robert Hountomey | jrhountomey at gmail.com
Related Policies: None
Obsoletes: None
Submission Date: April 14 2012
Amends: None


1.0 Summary of the Problem Being Addressed by this Policy Proposal

The African network infrastructure is growing with changes and 
extensions. This growth has brought changes in telecommunication and 
internet infrastructure.
With the emergence of new operators, mergers and acquisitions, the 
dynamism brought by the penetration of internet technology has required 
organizational changes
with job rotation. The need for accurate whois data has been in the news 
for years all over the world.
Inaccurate data is still present in the AfriNIC whois database because 
changes have occurred in organizations (point of contact, contact 
information etc.) and object owners have forgotten to update their 
records. The result is a “No response” from “whois” contacts listed in 
the AfriNIC Database.

2.0 Summary of How this Proposal Addresses the Problem

This proposal asks AfriNIC to maintain accuracy through a periodical 
database clean up.
Furthermore, at least once a year or at the renewal or resources, 
AfriNIC should conduct a whois database information validation.

3.0 The Proposal

AfriNIC members are committed through the RSA to maintain their data and 
keep it accurate.
AfriNIC will then maintain accuracy of whois information through 
periodical database clean up.

3.1 Cleanup

3.1.1 General Database Cleanup: At the ratification of this policy, 
AfriNIC will conduct a first cleanup by asking all POC present except 
those who received their objects in less than a year to confirm their 
POC information. We leave to AfriNIC's discretion to use any tool they 
find useful for this action.
3.1.2 Annual Clean up: After the first cleanup, AfriNIC will conduct a 
cleanup one time a year. We leave to AfriNIC's staff to define the period.
3.1.3 At the request of additional resources or services, AfriNIC will 
ask an ORG to update its records.

3.2 Steps

3.2.1 Members will have to confirm accuracy of their records in the 
Whois database in a month’s timeframe when contacted by email.
3.2.2 After one month, AfriNIC will make phone calls, send faxes for 
those who have not answered or those whose email has bounced back.
3.2.3 After a month of unresponsive response, the record will be marked 
invalid.
3.2.4 AfriNIC may publish a report twice a year about number resources 
with invalid POC.
3.2.5 After a year of data inconsistency, AfriNIC will claim the number 
resources back.


4.0 Situation within other RIRs

• ARIN conducts an annual POC (point of contact) validation process:
https://www.arin.net/resources/services/poc_validation.html
• At APNIC, there was a similar policy proposed that did not reach 
consensus and was withdrawn by the author.
http://www.apnic.net/data/assets/file/0006/22857/prop-084-v002.txt