[rpd] Policy Proposal: in-region vs out-of-region use of resources, and restrictions thereon

[Ibeanusi Elvis]

Hello, 

In accordance with the thread of the discussion at hand, I believe that it would be beneficial and it is a great initiative for the AFRINIC organization to address this issue of the in-region and out-of-region use of resources and restrictions. With the universality of the internet resources, having an initiative like this promotes for a borderless, no regional nor entity and limitless authority or exercise of power over the resources would be a spectacular approach to adhere. 

Elvis. 


> On Jul 29, 2021, at 21:00, Sarah T. Kiden <skiden at gmail.com> wrote:

> 

> Hi Jaco, 

> 

> Thank you for getting this started. Please see some comments in-line below. 

> 

> On Wed, Jul 28, 2021 at 1:42 PM Jaco Kroon <jaco at uls.co.za <mailto:jaco at uls.co.za>> wrote:

> Hi All,

> 

> 

> I believe that it's plain that AFRINIC was established for the benefit of the African continent, this is even enshrined in the by-laws, as detailed in section 3.4.  I believe sub-point (i) summarises it quite well:

> (i)to provide the service of allocating and registering Internet resources for the purposes of enabling communications via open system network protocols and to assist in the development and growth of the Internet in the African region; [emphasis added]

> 

> 

> I won't quote the rest of it here, but the rest of the section is equally relevant (https://afrinic.net/bylaws#b20-3 <https://afrinic.net/bylaws#b20-3>) and makes it plain that everything AFRINIC does should be for the benefit of the African continent (region).  Even the *membership* is based on this regional affinity:

> 

> MEMBERSHIP - 6.1

> Membership shall be open to:

> (i) any Person [including non-natural persons eg companies] who is geographically based within, and providing services in the African region, and who is engaged in the use of, or business of providing, open system protocol network services;

> 

> That is - the member is based in the AFRINIC region.  This applies to all three classes of members (Registered, Resource and Associate).

> 

> It is also implied here that the resources are for use within the African continent. 

> 

> Over the last while it's become apparent that many people are extremely unhappy about the fact that Afrinic resources are being used off-continent.  Based on the above I think it's a fair assumption/expectation (as well as appropriate) that at least the majority of issued resources should be used in-region (In particular IPv4 resources).

> 

> I believe it to be appropriate at this time to state this as policy in the CPM, and thereby to make the general sentiment I've seen plain as day.  This should then apply to all issued resources retrospectively as well.  Not only newly issued resources (which is currently already dealt with from the soft landing policy).

> 

> I request from the community opinions on the following:

> 

> 1.  If you had to assign a percentage to out-of-region use, what percentage of resources allocated from AFRINIC would be considered "fair usage" for out of region use (I'm thinking "At least 50% of issued resources should be used in-region", or then "less than 50% of resources may be used out-of-region"); and

> 

> 50% minimum sounds good, though if it was possible, 60%+ would be better. 

> 2.  Assuming that a policy gets passed to enforce some form of in-region use - what would be an acceptable amount of time to provide members to comply (I'm thinking either 6 or 12 months, definitely no longer than 18 unless someone can justify that sensibly) with respect to existing resources?

> 

> 6 - 12 months is reasonable.  

> You're welcome to differentiate between different types of resources (for example, I don't think it makes sense to have to get a separate AS number just because a company is multi-continent, so here as long as the AS is also used in-region).  Space on v6 is of such a nature that I'm inclined to say "who cares".

> 

> Agree, re: AS number. 

> 

> Regards, 

> 

> Sarah

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