ETSI - The European Telecommunications Standards Institute Route des Lucioles 650 F-06921 Sophia Antipolis CEDEX FRANCE August 6, 1999 Interim Board of Directors ICANN - Internet Corporation For Assigned Names and Numbers 4676 Admiralty Way, Suite 330 Marina del Rey, CA 90292 USA RE: DRAFT PROPOSAL FOR THE MOU BASED ASO Dear ICANN Interim Board Members, We welcome the opportunity to write to you on behalf of ETSI members regarding the "Draft proposal for the MoU based Address Supporting Organization (ASO)", submitted by the Regional Internet Registries (RIRs). With the convergence of Internet and telecommunications networks and services, the harmonization of numbering, naming, and addressing requirements between the two environments is imminent. In particular, initiatives for global mobile communications such as IMT-2000 will result in dramatically increased demand for IPv6 addresses. Among the IMT-2000 initiatives, the 3GPPs (3rd Generation Partnership Projects) are currently elaborating specifications jointly through ETSI and our partners ARIB/TTC of Japan, TIA/T1 of the USA, TTA of Korea and CTWG of China. The 3GPP Phase One launch is scheduled for December 1999. As a result of IMT-2000, the RIRs will have to deal with interoperability between Internet and heterogeneous telecom networks, requiring different expertise from their traditional participant base. While the administration of IPv4 addresses is well managed by the RIRs, IPv6 will bring with it new challenges. To satisfy emerging market customers in an enduring fashion, wide awareness and an excellent understanding of key commercial drivers are necessary. Policies to deal with new market needs should be elaborated with the valuable input of the telecommunications sector. Those arguing for an ASO comprised exclusively of RIRs, suggest that new expertise can be introduced through the RIRs' open procedures and thereby policy matters will be dealt with satisfactorily. This is highly unlikely due to the scarce resources available, and their participation behaviour (i.e. key people go to ITU, ETSI or RIRs but do not necessarily crossover). In our view, it is essential that the ASO involve all the appropriate parties. This approach will result in increased knowledge sharing and ultimately achieve superior results. We suggest that the "Draft Proposal" be amended to ensure the inclusion of telecommunications industry numbering expertise, either through participation of the companies or the appropriate representative bodies (e.g. ITU, ETSI). If not, the ASO will be unable to adequately consider policy matters common to Internet and telecommunications, which would be extremely regrettable. In her cover letter to the US House Committee on Commerce, (July 8, 1999), your Chairman stated that ICANN was being created to provide "...a global private-sector entity to serve as a vehicle for determining consensus across the Internet community...". The integration of the telecommunications sector into ICANN activities will help ensure wide acceptance and increased legitimacy for ICANN, which is essential to your future success and to the benefit of the entire Internet community. We appreciate your consideration of the above, and trust in your good faith to ensure the establishment of an ICANN Address Supporting Organisation which is "... composed of representatives from regional Internet registries and others with legitimate interests in these issues..." consistent with the ICANN Bylaws. We remain at your disposal to work with the RIRs to draft the necessary amendments. Yours most sincerely, Karl Heinz Rosenbrock Bridget P. Cosgrave Director General Deputy Director General <<ICANN ASO letter 6 august 99.doc>>
ICANN ASO letter 6 august 99.doc