Draft Policy ARIN-2025-4

Resource Issuance to Natural Persons

Status: Under Discussion
Shepherds: Elizabeth Goodson, Doug Camin

Current Text (20 May 2025)

Problem Statement:

ARIN policies currently restrict the issuance of number resources to organizations. This limits access for individuals who are running networks under their own legal name, especially in regions where forming or registering a business is not required or feasible. Other RIRs such as RIPE NCC allow individuals to receive resources directly. ARIN should consider similar flexibility to ensure equal and consistent access to Internet number resources for all operators, regardless of legal structure.

Policy Statement:

This proposal introduces explicit policy text into the NRPM to allow number resource issuance to natural persons (individuals) who provide valid justification and identity verification.

Amend NRPM Section 2 to add the following definition:

2.18 Organization

An organization is a company, corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship, government agency, non-profit entity, educational institution, or a natural person acting in a capacity consistent with operating a network and who meets ARIN’s resource eligibility criteria.

Comments: Sections 4.2, 5.1, and 6.5 shall be interpreted to allow “organizations” as newly defined in Section 2.12, thereby including individuals where appropriate.

Staff may develop identity verification and residency requirements appropriate to individuals (e.g., government-issued photo ID and proof of address).

All resource justification, utilization, and RSA signing requirements remain unchanged.

There has been extensive discussion of this topic on the ARIN Public Policy Mailing List (PPML) in April 2025. Participants have cited inconsistencies and barriers created by reliance on state-level business registries, and called for more inclusive eligibility mechanisms similar to other RIR regions. The proposal addresses these concerns while maintaining accountability and justification requirements.

Timetable for Implementation: Recommend implementation within 3–6 months of ratification to allow ARIN staff and legal counsel to develop supporting processes.

Anything Else: This proposal does not reduce the level of justification required to obtain resources, but merely expands eligibility to natural persons who operate networks and meet all existing technical and usage criteria.

History and Earlier Versions

Related Meetings