AS Numbers unused/sitting for long periods of time

Wed Jan 3 07:16:28 UTC 2018

On Tue, Jan 2, 2018 at 4:46 PM, James Breeden <James at arenalgroup.co> wrote:

> I.e. some form of ARIN or global policy that basically says "If AS number
> not routed or whois updated or used in 24 months, said AS number can be
> public noticed via mailing list and website and then revoked and reissued
> to a pending, approved AS request"
>

Why?   What is the justification for a  reclamation project?
Besides this is  Outside the purview, scope, or powers that RIRs/
ARIN in particular have put into their public policy development process.
of.

Number resource policies govern management regarding
number resources:  allocation, assignment,  and transfer.

Policies are not able to set fees or conditions on any existing services.
Revoking an unused resource would require a condition on
existing services that cannot be defined by a number resource policy.

EXISTING  number resources in ARIN region in particular are serviced under
the RSA contract that include terms specifically informs the end user that
ARIN is disclaiming itself from having any ability  or authority to
revoke any unused resources or cancel any services for lack of use.

> "ARIN will take no action to reduce the Services currently provided for
Included Number Resources due to lack of utilization by the Holder, and
(ii) ARIN has no right to revoke any included Number Resources under
this Agreement due to lack of utilization by Holder.

However, ARIN may refuse to permit transfers or additional allocations of
number resources to Holder if Holder’s included Number Resources are not
utilized in accordance with Policy."

I'm amazed at the number of AS numbers that are assigned, but not actively
> being used.

"Actively being used"   is determined only by the resource holder.

And before you come back with "Well they may be using it internally

where it doesn't need to be in the GRT" - that's why we have Private AS
> numbers.
>

It is a valid technical decision to use AS numbers internally,  and
there are reasons  Not to use the small pool of available  Private AS
numbers,

Even  if the private AS numbers  might be available for some legitimate use
cases;
there is no reason to favor them when privately interconnecting networks
across multiple organizations or policy domains, and it is perfectly valid
to
maintain uniquely-registered AS numbers for such internal purposes.

--
-JH