IANA Functions Stewardship Transition

Results of the consultation with the LACNIC Community: Proposal for transition of the IANA functions oversight as it relates to Internet numbering resource management

As a result of the consultation process among the Latin American and Caribbean community conducted on the internet-gov@lacnic.net mailing list and the two panels held within the framework of LACNIC 22 and building on the APNIC community's proposal, we propose:

That the IANA function stewardship role in the management of Internet numbering resources be assumed by the RIRs, represented by the NRO, with the creation of a Multistakeholder Oversight Numbers Council (MONC) made up by representatives of the various stakeholders involved with Internet numbering resources: operators, governments, and users from each RIR region.

This proposal seeks to generate a very simple structure within the framework of the RIRs and the NRO, without introducing any additional complexity or superstructures.

In order to fulfill its mission, MONC will meet at least once every year, at the request of the RIRs represented by the NRO; together with the RIR representatives on the NRO, MONC will review and evaluate the IANA numbers function performed by ICANN.

MONC will be established by an Affirmation of Commitments (AoC) agreement signed by the RIRs and ICANN, which will replace the 2007-2009 letters. This instrument will establish that MONC decisions will be binding on ICANN, who will agree to comply with these decisions once they are ratified and notified by the RIRs.

To decide MONC's initial composition, the NRO will summon each region's various stakeholders (operators, governments, and users), who will each nominate their representatives. Once constituted, MONC will define its rules of procedure and will be a permanent body of the NRO.

The AoC is the document that will empower MONC, together with the RIRs represented by the NRO, to rule on the IANA numbers function and issue such observations as deemed necessary. These observations will be binding on ICANN or any other body that might operate these functions in the future.

MONC's oversight will be limited to the processes followed in the performance of the IANA functions. Internet numbering resource assignment policies and the operations conducted by the RIRs will not be included, either jointly or individually. This clarification is important, as it emphasizes that MONC will only oversee the processes carried out by ICANN or by another entity that might replace ICANN in the future.

MONC will be in contact with the oversight mechanisms for the remaining IANA functions relating to protocol parameters and domain names. Confusion among them will be avoided and complete independence of those overseeing such other functions, as proposed and determined by their respective communities, will be maintained.[1]

Finally, MONC's accountability will be ensured by its multistakeholder nature.

When evaluating the proposal for the creation of MONC and its functions, it is important to highlight that it is fully compliant with the requirements informed by the NTIA on 14 March, 2014, in that:

• It supports the multistakeholder model;
• It maintains DNS security, stability, and resilience;
• It considers the needs and expectations of IANA service clients and partners at global level; and
• It maintains Internet openness.

A key aspect of MONC is that it does not create a new mechanism but, instead, it reinforces the multistakeholder system, allows anyone to participate, and ensures bottom-up decision-making. Thus, MONC allows transitioning from a centralized, government-led oversight system (NTIA) to a new, distributed, multistakeholder system.

Because it does not replace the NTIA role by a governmental- or intergovernmental-solution, the MONC proposal meets another requirement established by the United States Government for the transition as expressed in the 14 March announcement cited above.

In this sense, it is important to note that the MONC proposal includes the main principles established in the NET Mundial Statement on Internet governance: it upholds multistakeholderism, as it allows operators, governments and users to participate in the oversight role; it is open, participatory and based on consensus, as MONC adopts all its decisions by consensus, ensuring participation of all RIR regions and stakeholders; it is transparent, as the oversight process will be included in the agreements to be signed by the IANA services provider and the RIRs represented by the NRO; it considers accountability, as MONC must report transparently to the stakeholders that make up the body; it is inclusive and equitable, as MONC's initial and subsequent compositions will be open to the participation of all stakeholders; it is distributed and not concentrated in a single person or group of persons, thus reflecting participation of all regions and stakeholders; it is collaborative among all stakeholders and allows participation of every region and stakeholder in monitoring the IANA function relating to Internet numbering resources.

For all of the above, through LACNIC, the Latin American and Caribbean numbering community proposes the creation of MONC (Multistakeholder Numbers Oversight Council) under the terms described in the present document to exercise oversight of the IANA functions relating to Internet numbering resources.

Additional comments

It is also important to bear in mind certain cross-cutting issues.

The Latin American and Caribbean numbering community also expressed an interest in understanding the proposals prepared by the names community, as the reverse resolution of names to numbers occurring in the Domain Name System also impacts Internet stability and continuity.

[1] Contact with the oversight mechanisms for the IANA functions relating to DNS reverse resolution is particularly important, as, although it is not strictly within the field of Internet numbering resources, it does have an impact.