[rpd] [Last Call] Draft Policy Proposal - Hierarchical Names for New AS-SETs (AFPUB-2026-ASN-001-DRAFT02)

Mon Jul 20 15:05:32 UTC 2026

Hi Ben,

Some of the recent exchanges do suggest that some contributions may have been coordinated or based on common templates - and thanks adding “astroturfing" to my vocabulary :-)  Another problem along similar lines is organised bloc participation, but these issues are not new, in the AFRINIC community or elsewhere.  

We should be careful not to let the discussion become about the participants rather than the policy.   New voices should always be welcome, and the co-chairs can determine rough consensus by identifying and evaluating the distinct technical and policy issues raised, rather than the number of emails expressing them. 

Technically sound objections should be addressed on their merits regardless of who raises them - experienced operator or not -, and repeated assertions without additional evidence should not carry additional weight. In fact, co-chairs could ask participants to be more evidence-oriented, raising the quality bar without worrying too much about who the author is.

I think this could preserve the openness of the PDP while making coordinated messaging largely ineffective.

Cheers,

Omo

> On 20 Jul 2026, at 10:45, ben.roberts--- via RPD <rpd at afrinic.net> wrote:
> 
> Dr Nyasha,
> 
> It appears you are in fact using a template? And forgot to delete the [name] placeholder ?
> Did you write the email yourself?
> 
> Kind Regards,
> 
> Ben
> 
> Nyasha Ndemo wrote. >>>
> 
> Regards,
> [Name]
> 
> Dr. Nyasha Ndemo-Masimbarasi
> (DPhil, MSc., BSc. Hon. Development Science and Policy)
> Chairperson - Department of Development Programming and Management
> 
> 
> From: Nyasha Ndemo <nndemo at staff.zegu.ac.zw>
> Date: Monday, 20 July 2026 at 09:42
> To: rpd at afrinic.net <rpd at afrinic.net>
> Cc: rpd-owner at afrinic.net <rpd-owner at afrinic.net>
> Subject: [rpd] [Last Call] Draft Policy Proposal - Hierarchical Names for New AS-SETs (AFPUB-2026-ASN-001-DRAFT02)
> 
> Get Outlook for Mac <https://aka.ms/GetOutlookForMac>
> Dear PDWG,
> 
> The discussion is being diverted from the substance of the objections toward speculation about AI use, writing style, and how consensus should be counted.
> 
> That does not answer the policy concerns raised.
> 
> A problem statement does not prove that the proposed remedy is necessary, proportionate, or technically sufficient. Nor does the use of drafting assistance invalidate an argument. The relevant question is whether the objection is sound.
> 
> The objections remain clear: the proposal improves naming attribution, but it does not validate AS-SET contents, eliminate incorrect customer-cone data, or demonstrate that mandatory registry enforcement is the minimum necessary response.
> 
> If several participants raise the same concern, the proper response is to answer that concern on its merits. Similarity does not make it disappear, and unfamiliar participants do not count for less.
> 
> Participation is evidence, not mandate. Consensus is not manufactured by dismissing dissenters or analysing their prose.
> 
> I therefore remain opposed and ask that the discussion return to the unresolved technical and proportionality questions.
> 
> Regards,
> [Name]
> 
> Dr. Nyasha Ndemo-Masimbarasi
> (DPhil, MSc., BSc. Hon. Development Science and Policy)
> Chairperson - Department of Development Programming and Management
> Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University
> 1901 Barrassie Rd, Off Shamva Rd, Bindura
> Zimbabwe
> Landline: +263867 700 6136
> Cell: +263 773226552
> Email: nyashandemo at gmail.com <mailto:nyashandemo at gmail.com>
> 
> On Mon, Jul 20, 2026, 9:35 AM <rpd-request at afrinic.net <mailto:rpd-request at afrinic.net>> wrote:
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> Today's Topics:
> 
>    1. Subject: Re: [Last Call] Draft Policy Proposal ? Hierarchical
>       Names for New AS-SETs (AFPUB-2026-ASN-001-DRAFT02) (Thulisile Mazomba)
>    2. Re: [Last Call] Draft Policy Proposal ? Hierarchical Names
>       for New AS-SETs (AFPUB-2026-ASN-001-DRAFT02) (Tshepo Masuku)
> 
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Message: 1
> Date: Mon, 20 Jul 2026 07:24:43 +0000
> From: Thulisile Mazomba <219280444 at mycput.ac.za <mailto:219280444 at mycput.ac.za>>
> To: Frank Habicht <geier at geier.ne.tz <mailto:geier at geier.ne.tz>>, "rpd at afrinic.net <mailto:rpd at afrinic.net>"
>         <rpd at afrinic.net <mailto:rpd at afrinic.net>>
> Cc: "rpd-owner at afrinic.ne <mailto:rpd-owner at afrinic.ne>" <rpd-owner at afrinic.ne <mailto:rpd-owner at afrinic.ne>>
> Subject: [rpd] Subject: Re: [Last Call] Draft Policy Proposal ?
>         Hierarchical Names for New AS-SETs (AFPUB-2026-ASN-001-DRAFT02)
> Message-ID:
>         <GVXPR04MB12291FB9551CD3D0ADB433FE6D1C32 at GVXPR04MB12291.eurprd04.prod.outlook.com <mailto:GVXPR04MB12291FB9551CD3D0ADB433FE6D1C32 at GVXPR04MB12291.eurprd04.prod.outlook.com>>
> 
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252"
> 
> Hi Frank,
> 
> An improvement is not automatically a justification for mandatory policy.
> 
> The question is whether the benefit is significant enough, proven enough, and proportionate enough to place in the registry?s compulsory layer. Saying ?it helps? does not answer that.
> 
> And no, raising those questions does not mean the objection came first. It means policy power should be tested before it is expanded.
> 
> I remain opposed.
> 
> Regards,
> Thulisile
> ________________________________
> From: Frank Habicht <geier at geier.ne.tz <mailto:geier at geier.ne.tz>>
> Sent: Monday, 20 July 2026 06:36:00
> To: Thulisile Mazomba <219280444 at mycput.ac.za <mailto:219280444 at mycput.ac.za>>; rpd at afrinic.net <mailto:rpd at afrinic.net> <rpd at afrinic.net <mailto:rpd at afrinic.net>>
> Cc: rpd-owner at afrinic.ne <mailto:rpd-owner at afrinic.ne> <rpd-owner at afrinic.ne <mailto:rpd-owner at afrinic.ne>>
> Subject: Re: [rpd] [Last Call] Draft Policy Proposal ? Hierarchical Names for New AS-SETs (AFPUB-2026-ASN-001-DRAFT02)
> 
> Hi,
> 
> On 7/19/2026 11:29 PM, Thulisile Mazomba wrote:
> >
> > Hi Frank,
> >
> > You appear to be treating your disagreement with an objection as proof
> > that no technical objection exists.
> >
> > The proposal prevents one naming collision. It does not establish the
> > correctness of the routing data attached to that name,
> 
> The proposal does not fix *all* problems. and it doesn't claim to do so.
> It creates an improvement.
> I don't agree that it is ok to object just because this proposal does
> not fix *all* problems.
> 
> Do you agree it provides improvements?
> 
> > nor prove that
> > mandatory registry control is the only proportionate remedy.
> 
> it's not intended to prove that.
> 
> >
> > Those are technical and policy questions. Declaring them invalid does
> > not resolve them.
> They are not good reasons against the proposal.
> 
> But some people maybe want to be against the proposal first and then are
> looking for "questions".
> 
> Frank
> 
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> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 2
> Date: Mon, 20 Jul 2026 07:34:21 +0000
> From: Tshepo Masuku <TshepoMasuku26 at hotmail.com <mailto:TshepoMasuku26 at hotmail.com>>
> To: "rpd at afrinic.net <mailto:rpd at afrinic.net>" <rpd at afrinic.net <mailto:rpd at afrinic.net>>, "geier at geier.ne.tz <mailto:geier at geier.ne.tz>"
>         <geier at geier.ne.tz <mailto:geier at geier.ne.tz>>
> Subject: Re: [rpd] [Last Call] Draft Policy Proposal ? Hierarchical
>         Names for New AS-SETs (AFPUB-2026-ASN-001-DRAFT02)
> Message-ID:
>         <VI2PR04MB10545520811A7499ACFFB1239CAC32 at VI2PR04MB10545.eurprd04.prod.outlook.com <mailto:VI2PR04MB10545520811A7499ACFFB1239CAC32 at VI2PR04MB10545.eurprd04.prod.outlook.com>>
> 
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
> 
> Hi Frank,
> 
> You keep positioning yourself as the referee of which objections count.
> 
> That is not your role. Participants are allowed to question whether a useful change belongs in mandatory policy. Dismissing those concerns instead of answering them turns discussion into gatekeeping.
> 
> A policy room may debate. It does not grant any participant authority to police dissent.
> 
> I remain opposed.
> 
> Regards,
> Tshepo
> 
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Omo OAIYA
Chief Strategy Officer/Directeur de la Stratégie | WACREN <https://www.wacren.net/>
m: +234 808 888 1571 , +233 536 269 987

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