[governance] Re: Good contribution on IP addresses and Internet Governance

[McTim]

Lee,

On Mon, Apr 25, 2011 at 5:54 PM, Lee W McKnight <lmcknigh at syr.edu> wrote:
> McTim,
>
> Following on with Milton, markets allocate scarce resources most of the time.

Correct, and I am a big fan of markets in general, especially in an
Internet context.  The desire for people to find stuff they need and
want  has contributed greatly to Internet growth.

However, markets are not appropriate in all situations.  For example,
human trafficking and derivatives based on toxic mortgages.  NB: I am
NOT comparing those situations to the IP address distribution arena,
comparing them would be silly, its just to make the point that there
are some things which should not be subject to what is called the
"free market"

In any case, if you define a "market" as a place to go when you need
something, then its clear there has ALWAYS been a "market" for
Internet numbering resources.  Back in the day, before the network was
commercialised you would go to the IANA.

After commercialisation, you would get it from your upstream (the vast
majority of Internet users get their IP address space from their
providers, I'm guessing that 9x% of the "market need"  is satisfied by
this channel.

It's only if you are a large (for the most part) corporate or ISP that
you go to your RIR to satisfy your IP addressing needs.


>
> IP numbers may have no intrinsic value.
>
> So what, the right to use 'fresh' IPv4, like spectrum in a national market - has a value independent of the 'price' of  bits.

That seems to be about right, however, a "right to use"  is not the
same as a "right to sell or own".  The general rule, even in legacy
assignments is that you are allocated/assigned numbering resources for
a specific purpose or purposes.  If you don't need them for those
reasons, you have to give them back.


>
> Milton's suggestion to hold and wait for market forces to work their magic is the way to play imho; but note I am not a licensed broker/dealer

I don't see this as being in the public interest, nor do I think that
"deepest pockets wins" is a position that we as a CS Caucus should
espouse.


-- 
Cheers,

McTim
"A name indicates what we seek. An address indicates where it is. A
route indicates how we get there."  Jon Postel
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