RIPE Address Policy WG Concerns: Your document describing the policies governing the allocation of IPv4 address space from IANA to the Regional Internet Registries (RIRs) (call for comments, deadline 16 November 2003). Dear colleagues, Please find below the ETNO Common Position on the aforementioned consultation document. This ETNO Common Positions has been approved by all the members of the ETNO Naming, Addressing and Numbering Working Group and then received a unanimous positive vote from all 39 member companies in ETNO. The paper will equally be published, as of tomorrow, on our web site at: www.etno.be Best regards, Leo Debecker Executive Manager, Operations ETNO Brussels. November 2003 ETNO Common Position on "Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) Policies for Allocation of IPV4 Blocks to Regional Internet Registries" Executive Summary ETNO supports the proposed global policy and finds it is much more precise than the existing one. In particular, the concept will allow Regional Internet Registries more flexibility in the management of their allocated space. The European Telecommunications Network Operators' Association (1) (ETNO) has carefully reviewed the proposed global policy defining the address allocation of IPV4 Blocks from IANA to the Regional Internet Registries (http://www.ripe.net/ripe/draft-documents/iana-rir-allocation-policies.h tml). This policy has the merit of being much more precise, documented and detailed than the existing one. Clear definitions of available space and necessary space are provided. The proposal will allow more flexibility for the Regional Registries in the management of their allocated address space, based on the: . allocation of a sufficient address space to cover the needs for an 18 month period . possibility to take into account documented special needs to calculate the necessary space. ETNO supports this proposal and is convinced that Local Internet Registries and their customers will benefit from this flexibility. (1) The European Telecommunications Network Operators' Association is representing 39 major companies from 34 European countries, providing electronic communications networks over fixed, mobile or personal communications systems. ETNO's primary purpose is to establish a constructive dialogue between its member companies and actors involved in the development of the European Information Society to the benefit of users. More information on ETNO can be found at: www.etno.be