The North American Network Operators Group (NANOG), which is little known outside of the technical community but serves a vitally important role in the successful functioning of the Internet, has decided to organize under 501(c)3 status. To date, NANOG had its meetings and activities organized under the auspices of Merit, a Michigan-based educational and networking research non-profit which managed NSFNet, the precursor to the modern Internet. Since 1994, the NANOG mailing list has served as a primary method of inter-carrier communication in the region, used to share information and resolve operational problems. There are lots of questions being asked and explanations being offered about the transition. How the change will impact NANOG's activities and the operators who participate is to be determined, but it represents another step in the continuing formalization of Internet governance institutions.

View the announcement: http://mailman.nanog.org/pipermail/nanog/2010-April/021188.html

Followup questions here on NANOG-Futures: http://mailman.nanog.org/pipermail/nanog-futures/2010-April/thread.html

FAQ: http://mailman.nanog.org/pipermail/nanog-futures/2010-April/000742.html

10 thoughts on “North American Network Operators Group to formally organize

  1. As Milton heads into the Lion's Den of ARIN, he may
    not have their tech depth but he never stops asking
    questions. ARIN does not like questions.
    Unfortunately, the ARIN attendees like the NANOG
    groupies are now Fringe Players. They are like
    cab drivers in major cities. Yes, they have an
    opinion. No, they don't design cars or fix them.
    As for what is happening in the air travel industry?
    Clueless.
    ARIN has a little more “muscle” than NANOG, but
    it is largely the same Cabbies. They will of course
    claim no one is going to the airport without them.
    Uh huh. Sure. OKee-Do-Kee
    The big boys (airlines & trains) will take what
    they need to move forward. They can also invent
    new /8s or use FREE IPv6 address space.
    The ISOC & ICANN Labor Union will continue to try
    to get their “cut” of the action. Jimmy Hoffa would
    be proud.

  2. NANOG does not and will never hold IP address space, other than that used for the conference wireless net.

  3. The NANOG attendees are the top network architects at all of the key carriers and content providers.

  4. “top network architects at all of the key carriers” ??
    Are you serious ?

  5. Absolutes like “never” never seem to work out when
    one is dealing with Non-Profit Quangos set up to
    benefit a few insiders.
    What happens if all of the SWAMP “owners” join
    NANOG to protect their IP Address Space assets ?
    How can one predict that humans will “never”
    do something?

  6. The “architecture” of the Internet is about as
    interesting as an asphalt parking lot.
    Being the Architect of a parking lot is not rocket science. Painting the lines every few years may
    be the major decision.

  7. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
    National Telecommunications and
    Information Administration
    International Trade Administration
    Information Privacy and Innovation in
    the Internet Economy
    AGENCIES: National Telecommunications
    and Information Administration, U.S.
    Department of Commerce; and
    International Trade Administration,
    U.S. Department of Commerce.
    ACTION: Notice of Public Meeting.
    SUMMARY: The National
    Telecommunications and Information
    Administration (NTIA) and the
    International Trade Administration
    (ITA), on behalf of the U.S. Department
    of Commerce (Department), will hold a
    public meeting on May 7, 2010, to
    discuss the nexus between privacy
    policy and innovation in the Internet
    economy.
    DATES: The meeting will be held on May
    7, 2010, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.,
    Eastern Daylight Time. Registration will
    start at 8:30 a.m.
    ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in
    the Polaris Room of the Ronald Reagan
    International Trade Center, 1300
    Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington,
    DC 20001. Please enter at the main
    entrance on 14th Street. All of the major
    entrances to the building are accessible
    to people with disabilities.
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
    further information regarding the
    meeting, contact Manu Bhardwaj by
    email at mbhardwaj@ntia.doc.gov or by
    phone at (202) 482–1840.
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Recognizing the vital importance of the
    Internet to U.S. innovation, prosperity,
    education, and political and cultural
    life, the Department has made it a top
    priority to ensure that the Internet
    remains open for innovation. The
    Department has assembled a newly
    created Internet Policy Task Force (Task
    Force) whose mission is to identify
    leading public policy and operational
    challenges in the Internet environment.
    The Task Force leverages expertise
    across many bureaus, including those
    responsible for domestic and
    international information and
    communications technology policy,
    international trade, cybersecurity
    standards and best practices,
    intellectual property, business
    advocacy, and export control.
    As part of the Task Force, NTIA and
    ITA are conducting a comprehensive
    review of the nexus between privacy
    policy and innovation in the Internet
    economy, which will include the
    issuance of a notice of inquiry. To
    facilitate the review, on May 7, 2010,
    NTIA will hold a public meeting to
    discuss stakeholder views and to
    facilitate further public discussion on
    privacy policy in the United States. The
    event will seek participation and
    comment from all Internet stakeholders,
    including the commercial, academic,
    and civil society sectors, on the impact
    of current privacy laws in the United
    States and around the world on the pace
    of innovation in the information
    economy. A discussion of whether
    current privacy laws serve consumer
    interests and fundamental democratic
    values is also anticipated.
    The agenda for the public meeting
    will be posted on NTIA’s website at
    least one week prior to the meeting.
    This meeting will be webcast. The
    agenda and webcast information will be
    available on NTIA’s website at
    http://www.ntia.doc.gov. Secretary of
    Commerce Gary Locke is scheduled to
    deliver keynote remarks. Also
    participating with remarks will be
    NTIA’s Administrator and Assistant
    Secretary Lawrence Strickling, the
    Department of Commerce’s General
    Counsel Cameron Kerry, and other U.S.
    Government officials.
    The meeting will be open to members
    of the public on a first-come, first-served
    basis. The meeting will be physically
    accessible to people with disabilities.
    Individuals requiring accommodation
    services, such as sign language
    interpretation or other ancillary aids,
    should communicate their needs to
    Manu Bhardwaj at least two (2) days
    prior to the meeting. Attendees should
    arrive at least one-half hour prior to the
    start of the meeting and must present a
    valid passport or other photo
    identification upon arrival. Members of
    the public will have an opportunity to
    ask questions at the meeting.
    Dated: April 12, 2010.
    Lawrence E. Strickling,
    Assistant Secretary for Communications and
    Information.
    Francisco J. Sanchez,
    Under Secretary of Commerce for
    International Trade.
    [FR Doc. 2010–8681 Filed 4–15–10; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 3510–60–S; 3510–D–S

  8. The
    Department has assembled a newly
    created Internet Policy Task Force (Task
    Force) whose mission is to identify
    leading public policy and operational
    challenges in the Internet environment.

  9. The Level of Clue seems to drop each day on the NANOG mail lists.
    It is now a Chat Room of ISP Groupies & Nerds

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