Recommended Draft RIR Governance Document, Rationale Report, and Next Steps

Posted: Tuesday, 01 September 2026
Governance

The Number Resource Organization Executive Council (NRO EC) had announced that the Number Council (NC) concluded its work to review and update Internet Coordination Policy-2 (ICP-2): Criteria for Establishment of New Regional Internet Registries following its delivery of the "ASO AC Recommended Draft RIR Governance Document".

The NRO NC is now sharing that document, including a redline version for comparison to the second draft, and a rationale document that details the changes between version two and version three of the document.

The key changes in version three include:

• Clearer definitions and decision-making provisions, including new or amended definitions for Audit, Compliance Review, Rehabilitation Plan, Temporary Emergency Continuity Arrangement, Temporary Emergency Operator, and Transition Plan.
• A restructured Recognition process, with more detailed proposal and review requirements, a two-thirds RIR support threshold, conflict-of-interest disclosure, clearer ICANN responsibilities, and greater transparency through the publication of assessments and rationales.
• Clarifications to Service Region, Coordination Limitation, and Community Consultation provisions to improve readability and explain how consultation may occur during Recognition or Derecognition processes.
• A revised audit and compliance framework, including a five-year regular audit cycle, a distinct Compliance Review process with safeguards against misuse, and clearer outcomes and follow-up through Rehabilitation Plans where needed.
• Updated emergency continuity provisions, including terminology changes, the ability for an affected RIR to initiate a Temporary Emergency Continuity Arrangement for its own services, a lowered initiation threshold involving ICANN and two-thirds of the RIRs, a retained 90-day limit, and additional transparency safeguards.
• A more detailed Derecognition process that emphasizes rehabilitation as the preferred path, aligns key steps with the Recognition process, clarifies ICANN's review and decision-making role, requires publication of decisions and supporting documents, and applies a two-thirds RIR support threshold excluding the subject RIR.
• New amendment safeguards that prevent the document from being amended during a Temporary Emergency Continuity Arrangement or while a proposal for Derecognition is pending.

By setting out these changes and the accompanying reasons, the NRO NC hopes to help readers understand the major considerations weighed in developing version three and how the draft seeks to address the main community concerns during the feedback process.

We sincerely thank everyone who has shared their insights, and we appreciate the time, thought and effort put in by our respondents.

Any further opportunities for community input will be announced by the NRO EC. All additional updates to the Recommended Draft will be coordinated by the NRO EC.

On behalf of the NRO NC

The Number Resource Organization Number Council (NRO NC) is also known as the Address Supporting Organization Address Council (ASO AC) within ICANN, where it serves as the body responsible for overseeing global policy development related to Internet number resources.