ASO Address Council submits draft Regional Internet Registry governance framework to NRO Executive Council

The Address Supporting Organization Address Council (ASO AC) has delivered the Recommended Draft RIR Governance Document (Version 3) to the Number Resource Organization Executive Council (NRO EC), completing its mandate to review and update the governance framework for the global Regional Internet Registry (RIR) system.

The work was carried out in response to a request from the NRO Executive Council to review Internet Coordination Policy-2 (ICP-2): Criteria for Establishment of New Regional Internet Registries and to develop a modernised governance framework for the RIR system. With the submission of the recommended draft, responsibility for the document has formally transferred from the ASO AC to the NRO EC, which will oversee the next phase of the process.

The review of ICP-2 has been conducted through a multi-stage consultation process involving both the RIR and ICANN communities. The process began with a review of the existing ICP-2 document and the development of a set of governance principles, followed by public consultation through questionnaires and an ICANN Public Comment process.

Input gathered during this initial phase informed the publication of the first draft of the RIR Governance Document in April 2025. Community feedback was collected through regional Internet registry mailing lists, webinars, online discussions, regional meetings, ICANN engagement sessions, and additional public consultations.

A revised second draft was subsequently released together with supporting documentation, including a redline comparison and an explanation of the changes made. A second consultation, held between August and November 2025, provided further opportunities for stakeholders to comment on the revised proposal. The ASO AC also continued discussions with the RIR and ICANN communities, including engagement during ICANN 85 in March 2026. Feedback from these activities informed the final recommended draft now submitted to the NRO EC.

The Number Resource Organization Executive Council will now review the document and coordinate the next stages of the governance review in collaboration with ICANN and the five Regional Internet Registries. According to the NRO EC, an updated implementation timeline will be published in the coming weeks, alongside the recommended draft and supporting materials, including a summary of changes from Version 2 and a detailed comparison document.

The NRO EC also stated that any future opportunities for public consultation will be announced as the review progresses.

In its announcement, the NRO Executive Council thanked the ASO AC, its drafting team, and members of the RIR and ICANN communities for their contributions throughout the review process, highlighting the role of public consultations, community meetings, mailing lists, webinars, and formal comment periods in shaping the updated governance framework.

Why does it matter?

The review of ICP-2 represents one of the most significant governance updates for the Regional Internet Registry system in recent years. The document defines the principles governing the establishment and oversight of RIRs, which are responsible for allocating Internet number resources such as IP addresses and Autonomous System Numbers. By incorporating extensive community consultation and updating governance arrangements, the proposed framework aims to provide greater clarity, transparency, and consistency for the long-term management of Internet number resources while preserving the multistakeholder model that underpins Internet governance.