ARIN-prop-352: Harmonize Section 1 and Section 6, Principles and Goals Statements

Date: 9 July 2026

Proposal Originator: Chris Woodfield

Harmonize Section 1 and Section 6, Principles and Goals Statements

Problem Statement

There are two main sections of the NRPM that discuss principles and goals; one is found in Section 1, and the other in Section 6; similar language in Section 4 has been previously retired. Given the history of these two sections, there are multiple redundancies and incongruities in their language. This proposal seeks to clarify the language of both sections in order to better communicate ARIN’s principles and goals.

This policy proposal is not intended to make meaningful changes to these goals and principles, but to clarify their language and remove duplication. Any analysis that suggests otherwise should be addressed.

Policy Statement

Original Text:

Principles and Goals of the American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN)

1.1. Registration

The principle of registration guarantees the uniqueness of Internet number resources. Provision of this public registry documenting Internet number resource allocation, reallocation, assignment, and reassignment is necessary:

to ensure uniqueness,
to provide a contact in case of operational/security problems,
to provide the transparency required to ensure that Internet number resources are efficiently utilized, and
to assist in IP allocation studies.

1.2. Conservation

The principle of conservation guarantees sustainability of the Internet through efficient utilization of unique number resources.

Due to the requirement for uniqueness, Internet number resources of each type are drawn from a common number space. Conservation of these common number spaces requires that Internet number resources be efficiently distributed to those organizations who have a technical need for them in support of operational networks.

1.3. Routability

The principle of routability guarantees that Internet number resources are managed in such a manner that they may be routed on the Internet in a scalable manner.

While routing scalability is necessary to ensure proper operation of Internet routing, allocation or assignment of Internet number resources by ARIN in no way guarantees that those addresses will be routed by any particular network operator.

1.4. Stewardship

The principle of stewardship guarantees the application of these principles when managing Internet number resources.

The fundamental purpose of Internet number stewardship is to distribute unique number resources to entities building and operating networks thereby facilitating the growth and sustainability of the Internet for the benefit of all.

It should be noted that the above goals may sometimes be in conflict with each other and with the interests of individual end-users or network operators. Care must be taken to ensure balance with these conflicting goals given the resource availability, relative size of the resource, and number resource specific technical dynamics, for each type of number resource.

6.3. Goals of IPv6 Address Space Management

6.3.1. Goals

IPv6 address space is a public resource that must be managed in a prudent manner with regards to the long-term interests of the internet. Responsible address space management involves balancing a set of sometimes competing goals. The following are the goals relevant to IPv6 address policy.

6.3.2. Uniqueness

Every assignment and/or allocation of address space must guarantee uniqueness worldwide. This is an absolute requirement for ensuring that every public host on the Internet can be uniquely identified.

6.3.3. Registration

Internet address space must be registered in a registry database accessible to appropriate members of the Internet community. This is necessary to ensure the uniqueness of each Internet address and to provide reference information for Internet troubleshooting at all levels, ranging from all RIRs and IRs to end users.

The goal of registration should be applied within the context of reasonable privacy considerations and applicable laws.

6.3.4. Aggregation

Wherever possible, address space should be distributed in a hierarchical manner, according to the topology of network infrastructure. This is necessary to permit the aggregation of routing information by ISPs, and to limit the expansion of Internet routing tables.

This goal is particularly important in IPv6 addressing, where the size of the total address pool creates significant implications for both internal and external routing.

IPv6 address policies should seek to avoid fragmentation of address ranges.

Further, RIRs should apply practices that maximize the potential for subsequent allocations to be made contiguous with past allocations currently held. However, there can be no guarantee of contiguous allocation.

6.3.5. Conservation

Although IPv6 provides an extremely large pool of address space, address policies should avoid unnecessarily wasteful practices. Requests for address space should be supported by appropriate documentation and stockpiling of unused addresses should be avoided.

6.3.6. Fairness

All policies and practices relating to the use of public address space should apply fairly and equitably to all existing and potential members of the Internet community, regardless of their location, nationality, size or any other factor.

6.3.7. Minimized Overhead

It is desirable to minimize the overhead associated with obtaining address space. Overhead includes the need to go back to RIRs for additional space too frequently, the overhead associated with managing address space that grows through a number of small successive incremental expansions rather than through fewer, but larger, expansions.

6.3.8. Conflict of Goals

The goals described above will often conflict with each other, or with the needs of individual IRs or end users. All IRs evaluating requests for allocations and assignments must make judgments, seeking to balance the needs of the applicant with the needs of the Internet community as a whole.

In IPv6 address policy, the goal of aggregation is considered to be the most important.

Proposal Text:

Principles and Goals of the American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN)

Update Sections 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 and 1.4 as follows:

1.1. Registration (refactor of original language)

The provisioning of a public registry documenting Internet number resource allocation, reallocation, assignment, and reassignment is necessary:

to ensure the uniqueness of allocated resources,
to provide operational and security contacts for resource holders,
to provide the transparency required to ensure that Internet number resources are efficiently utilized, and
to provide data for the research and reporting of allocation activity.

1.2. Conservation (moving language from 6.3.5, integrating into existing)

Due to the requirement for uniqueness, Internet number resources of each type are drawn from a common number space. Conservation of these common number spaces requires that these resources be efficiently distributed to those organizations who have a technical need for them in support of operational networks. Requests for address space should be supported by appropriate documentation; stockpiling of unused addresses should be discouraged.

1.3. Routability and Scalability (moving language from 6.3.4, integrating into existing)

Where possible, address policies should seek to avoid fragmentation of address ranges.

1.4. Stewardship (removing language and moving to new sections harmonized with original 6.3. sections)

Add new sections, with language borrowed from original section 1.4 and sections 6.3.6 and 6.3.7:

1.5 Fairness

1.6 Conflict of Goals It should be noted that the above goals may sometimes be in conflict with each other and with the interests of individual end-users or network operators. Care must be taken to ensure balance with these conflicting goals given the resource availability, relative size of the resource, and number resource specific technical dynamics, for each type of number resource.

6.3. Goals of IPv6 Address Space Management

Update 6.3.1 to reference earlier principals and goals statements:

6.3.1. Goals

IPv6 address space, like other resources under ARIN’s purview, must be managed in a prudent manner in keeping with the long-term interests of the internet. Responsible address space management involves balancing a set of sometimes competing goals. In addition to the general principles and goals in Section 1, the following principles and goals should be followed in managing IPv6 address resources:

Remove 6.3.2 and 6.3.3 as redundant to 1.2 and 1.1:

6.3.2. (retired)

6.3.3. (retired)

Modify 6.3.4, moving more generic language to 1.3 while keeping IPv6-specific language

6.3.4. Aggregation

IPv6 address policies should seek to avoid fragmentation of address ranges. ARIN will apply practices that maximize the potential for subsequent allocations to be made contiguous with past allocations currently held; however, there can be no guarantee of contiguous allocation.

When managing IPv6 address resources, the goal of Aggregation should be considered the most important.

6.3.7. Minimized Overhead

It is desirable to minimize the overhead associated with obtaining address space. Overhead includes the need to request additional space too frequently and the overhead associated with managing address space that grows through a number of small successive incremental expansions, rather than through fewer, but larger, expansions.

Remove 6.3.8 as redundant to 1.6 (which now calls out the IPv6-specific priority of conflicting goals)

6.3.8. (retired)

Comments

This proposal is being submitted as a work product of the ARIN Advisory Council Policy Experience Report Working Group (PERWG).

As stated earlier, this is intended to be solely a language cleanup and harmonization, and is submitted with no intention to materially change allocation policies. All parties should carefully review the updated language and call out potential changes in policy that may happen unintentionally with the adoption of this language.