Statement NRO

[Andres Piazza <andres@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Dear All, It is my pleasure to submit a NRO Statement:


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*Statement of The NRO on Draft for Final Report of ICANN Geographic Regions*


First of all, the NRO recognizes the efforts of the Working Group in 
trying to find a consistent standard for the allocation of countries 
into regions in order to maintain geographical diversity in the 
composition of the ICANN Board and ICANN's organizational structures.
The NRO understands the Working Group's recommendations for ICANN to 
maintain an ad-hoc standard and implement it flexibly; the rationale of 
not expanding the number of available regions; and the importance of 
allowing countries to assert their sovereignty and self-determination.
The NRO also notes that the RIR model has been suggested by the Working 
Group as the starting point for a revised regional framework for ICANN. 
While the NRO does not oppose this recommendation, we wish to make the 
following clarifications.
As stated in the Draft Final Report, neither of the two ASO 
representatives on the WG proposed, advocated or endorsed the use of the 
RIR model as a framework to be used by ICANN. The NRO stresses that we 
have no interest in the use of its model as the new geographic framework 
for ICANN, and that this is a matter entirely for the affected 
stakeholders.The RIR system was created as a result of a community-based 
bottom-up policy development processes and has evolved with the aim of 
ensuring a fair distribution of IP address space globally, and to 
minimize address space fragmentation.
If the RIR model is considered by the ICANN community as a useful 
starting point to update its geographic regions, this is a fortunate 
coincidence but certainly not an intended or expected application of the 
model. Further, the RIR geographical framework is not fixed and may 
continue evolving over time according to our community-based bottom-up 
participatory policy development processes. Moreover, The ASO's MoU, 
signed in 2004 between ICANN and The NRO establishes at its Article 6 
that the Service Regions shall be defined by the RIRs in a manner of 
their choosing.
While the Draft Final Report suggests the use of the RIR model "as a 
starting point for a revised regional framework at ICANN", it does not 
mention how changes in the RIR system may affect the ICANN geographic 
framework in the future. Perhaps a Final Version could expand more on 
this possible scenario.
Again, the NRO commends the hard work of the Working Group and shares 
its commitment to find improved ways to maintain geographic diversity at 
all levels of ICANN.

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Warmest Regards,


Andrés Piazza
Chairman - Public Affairs Coordination Group
The NRO