Historical Resolution Tracking Feature » Service Level Agreement (SLA) with RIRs for the IANA Numbering Services
Important note: The explanatory text provided through this database (including the summary, implementation actions, identification of related resolutions, and additional information) is an interpretation or an explanation that has no official authority and does not represent the purpose behind the Board actions, nor does any explanations or interpretations modify or override the Resolutions themselves. Resolutions can only be modified through further act of the ICANN Board.
Service Level Agreement (SLA) with RIRs for the IANA Numbering Services
The ICANN Board authorizes the President and CEO o take such actions as appropriate to finalize and execute the Service Level Agreement with the Regional Internet Registries for the IANA Numbering Services as contemplated by the Proposal.
Whereas, on 10 March 2016, the Board approved a package of proposals to transition NTIA's stewardship of the IANA function to the global multistakeholder community (the "Proposal").
Whereas, the Proposal contains a requirement for a Service Level Agreement (SLA) between ICANN and the five Regional Internet Registries (RIRs) for the performance of the numbering services.
Whereas, the Proposal contains eleven principles for the IANA Service Level Agreement.
Whereas, the RIRs drafted the proposed SLA in accordance with the IANA Service Level Agreement principles in the Proposal following an open and transparent process, including public comment period of each version via the ianaxfer mailing list . The RIRs also had discussions and meetings with ICANN during the drafting process, and ICANN submitted written comments on various versions of the proposed SLA to the ianaxfer mailing list.
Resolved (2016.05.27.06), the President and CEO, or his designee(s), is authorized to take such actions as appropriate to finalize and execute the Service Level Agreement with the Regional Internet Registries for the IANA Numbering Services as contemplated by the Proposal.
Today, the Board is taking action to approve the Service Level Agreement (SLA) between ICANN and the Regional Internet Registries (RIRs) for the IANA Numbering Services. This action follows-on from the Board's 10 March 2016 resolution, where the Board approved a package of proposals developed by the global Internet community to transition NTIA's stewardship of the IANA functions to the global multistakeholder community (the "Proposal"). One of the requirements in the Proposal is the creation of an SLA between ICANN and the RIRs. The Proposal contains eleven principles for this SLA. The SLA is the contractual agreement between ICANN and the RIRs for the delivery of the numbering services. As such, it contains performance expectations, and specifies escalation paths and dispute resolution mechanisms in the event of non-performance.
The terms of the SLA automatically renews every 5 years, unless either ICANN or the RIRs elects to not renew for any reason (with or without cause) by providing 12 months notice prior to the expiration of the then-current term. In the event of non-renewal or termination, the RIRs have sole discretion in selecting a successor operator.
The SLA allows for ICANN to sub-contract the performance of the numbering services with consent from the RIRs. It also contains condition precedent language, which is a provision that says the SLA will not become effective unless and until the transition happens. This will allow ICANN to continue to fulfill its obligation under the current IANA function contract with NTIA until the transition happens.
The RIRs initiated a process to draft the proposed SLA in accordance with the IANA Service Level Agreement principles in the Proposal, which went through multiple rounds of public comment via the RIR's ianaxfer mailing list. There were six versions of the proposed SLA, and each went through a public comment process. The RIRs considered and addressed the comments in each version as appropriate. ICANN contributed comments to the ianaxfer mailing list and also had informational discussions with the RIRs.
As part of its deliberations, the Board reviewed various materials, including, but not limited to, the following materials and documents:
The IANA Service Level Agreement Principles [PDF, 2.32 MB]
Comments submitted
Proposed SLA https://www.nro.net/wp-content/uploads/ICANN-RIR-SLA-signature.pdf [PDF, 222 KB]
The Board's approval of the proposed SLA will have positive impact on the community as it fulfills one of the requirements from the Proposal endorsed by the global stakeholder community and approved by the Board on 10 March 2016. Additionally, approval of the SLA will help ensure that ICANN meets the expectations of the number community for the continued performance of the numbering services in accordance with the service level needs of the numbering community.
The proposed SLA, in its section 5, indicates that a portion equivalent to US$650,000 of the contribution made by the RIRs to ICANN contemplated in the exchange of letters between ICANN and the NRO (2007 and 2009) is to reimburse ICANN for the costs of operating the IANA numbering services. Consequently, this portion of US$650,000 constitutes a donor-restricted contribution to ICANN, which ICANN will need to ensure is adequately identified in its financial statements, and correctly applied to the funding of the PTI for the IANA numbering services.
There are no expected security, stability, or resiliency issues related to the DNS associated with the Board's approval of the SLA.
This decision is an Organizational Administrative Function that does not require public comment.