Dear all, This short report and attached document aim to keep you informed as to the developments involving IANA and the role that the RIPE NCC is playing in this. Discussions on the future of IANA are currently intensifying. During the recent IETF meeting Rob Blokzijl and Daniel Karrenberg, on behalf of the RIPE community, pursued this matter with all concerned. The US government plans to continue funding IANA until September 1998, at which time US government funding will definitely cease. The University of Southern California still holds our initial contribution and will use it if necessary. Jon Postel is working on a plan to incorporate IANA as a legal entity and to get support from IANA's direct users as well as the community at large. Incorporation is planned for the first half of this year. Consensus is emerging about the IANA services. Attached is a position paper that Rob, Daniel and myself wrote and sent as input for that process. This position paper can shortly be found on the tld-wg and lir-wg websites. A more detailed report including the latest developments will be given at the RIPE meeting. Regards Paul Ridley RIPE NCC Business Manager