LACNIC Board Views on the ASO Review Recommendations
The Number Resource Organization (NRO) has been charged with conducting a Review of the Address Supporting Organization (ASO) within the ICANN structure, for which it selected ITEMS International[1], a consulting firm specializing in telecommunications and the Internet, which published its Final Report[2] with the conclusions of its review this past August 8th.
Within the framework of this process, the LACNIC Board shares its views on the recommendations set out in the Final Report.
The LACNIC Board reviewed the first seventeen recommendations and concluded that the majority are operational and may be implemented as soon as the NRO EC considers appropriate, as they require coordination among the five RIRs.
As for recommendation No. 18 which addresses the possibility of a public consultation involving the five RIR communities to determine the level of changes needed in the ASO, the LACNIC Board considers that the ASO structure and/or procedures require adjustments to clarify some of the issues brought up by ITEMS in its Final Report.
However, rather than a binary choice (change nothing vs. change everything) in each of hte four categories defined by ITEMS (ICANN Bylaws, ASO MoU, ASO AC Rules of Procedure, ASO Website) [see image 1] the LACNIC Board finds a broader spectrum of choices and believes that required adjustments are much closer to minor, low-complexity changes [see image 2].
The LACNIC Board supports this approach, first, on the fact that the nature of the RIRs and their mission have not changed; second, on the fact that RIRs should be careful not to increase the complexity of a structure in a way that does not add greater value to the numbers community; finally, on the fact that the assessment of the effectiveness of the ASO as stated in this Final Report was very positive.
Consequently, whatever the conclusion of this process may be and in the understanding that some adjustments will be implemented, such changes should be follow the original expectations of the community to manage the Internet numbers in an efficient and effective way.
Finally, the LACNIC Board has decided against organizing a regional consultation at this point, instead waiting until the NRO EC can have a clearer view regarding the level of changes that can feasibly be implemented taking into account the considerations above.
[1] https://www.nro.net/independent-review-of-aso-granted-to-items-international/
[2] https://www.nro.net/independent-review-of-the-icann-address-supporting-organization-aso-published/
