NRO opens second round of consultation on updated Regional Internet Registry governance framework

On 28 August 2025, the NRO NC announced the publication of the revised draft RIR Governance Document, following the first global consultation earlier this year. The document seeks to replace ICP-2: Criteria for the Establishment of New Regional Internet Registries, first developed in the early 2000s. ICP-2 outlines how new RIRs can be recognised, how they operate, and under what circumstances they may be derecognised.

The NRO NC, which performs the functions of the Address Supporting Organization Address Council (ASO AC) within ICANN’s structure, was tasked by the Number Resource Organization Executive Council (NRO EC) in October 2023 to lead a transparent, community-driven process for revising ICP-2. This process involves input from all five RIRs (AFRINIC, APNIC, ARIN, LACNIC and RIPE NCC) and the wider ICANN community.

From first consultation to second draft

The first consultation, held between 14 April and 27 May 2025, invited comments from across RIR and ICANN communities. Feedback from that period informed a qualitative analysis and summary report published on 30 July 2025.

Based on that input, the NRO NC revised the draft text to address community questions about recognition procedures, operational oversight, and derecognition mechanisms. The new version aims to clarify governance principles while ensuring consistency with existing RIR agreements and ICANN bylaws.

To enhance transparency, the NRO NC will publish a redline version comparing the two drafts, alongside a summary rationale explaining the changes. These supporting documents will help participants easily identify modifications and assess whether the new text reflects earlier community feedback.

Consultation process and participation

The NRO NC is now inviting public feedback until 7 November 2025. Comments should focus specifically on the revised text of the proposed RIR Governance Document and address whether it resolves concerns raised during the first consultation.

The organisation encourages constructive, text-specific feedback and notes that implementation questions, such as how the governance framework will be applied in practice, will be considered out of scope for this round.

Community members can share their views through regional consultation channels listed on the NRO Community Engagements webpage. In addition, a series of information sessions will be held across RIR regions, including online discussions and open forums. All sessions will be recorded and archived on the NRO website for later reference.

The NRO NC will review all submissions during its workshop scheduled for 12–14 November 2025, following which further refinements may be made before a final version is proposed for adoption.

Significance of the revised governance framework

The update of ICP-2 – now framed as the ‘Governance Document for the Recognition, Operation, and Derecognition of RIRs’ – represents a crucial evolution in the global Internet number resource system. The revision seeks to:

• clearly define the conditions under which new RIRs may be recognized;
• formalize standards for operational accountability and regional coordination;
• and establish a structured process for derecognition in the event of persistent governance or operational failures.

As the Internet continues to expand and diversify, ensuring the resilience, transparency, and legitimacy of RIR governance has become a key concern for the global technical community. The NRO’s open consultation model, conducted in cooperation with ICANN, reinforces the multistakeholder principles that underpin Internet governance.

Next steps

After the November 2025 review workshop, the NRO NC will prepare a final draft incorporating community input. The updated framework will then move toward formal community endorsement and eventual adoption, ensuring that the governance of Regional Internet Registries remains responsive to evolving operational and accountability standards worldwide.