Number Resource Organization

Type:	Unincorporated Organization
Industry:	Registry Organization
Founded:	2003
Founder(s):	APNIC, RIPE, ARIN, LACNIC
Website:	www.nro.net

The Number Resource Organization (NRO) is the coordinating body for the world's five Regional Internet Registries (RIRs), which manage the allocation of IP addresses and Autonomous System Numbers.

RIRs

• AFRINIC
• APNIC
• ARIN
• LACNIC
• RIPE

History

The NRO was originally formed on 24 October 2003, when the 4 existing RIRs entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). AFRINIC signed the MoU and joined the NRO shortly after it was incorporated in April 2005.

On 31 October 2003, the RIRs sent an Open Letter, which notified ICANN of the NRO's formation and proposed the formation of the Address Supporting Organization (ASO).

Mission & Aims

The mission as described by the NRO is: To actively contribute to an open, stable and secure internet, through:

• Providing and promoting a coordinated Internet number registry system
• Being an authoritative voice on the multi-stakeholder model and bottom-up policy process in Internet governance
• Coordinating and supporting joint activities of the RIRs

Additionally, the aims of the NRO are to:

• Protect the unallocated Internet number resource pool
• Promote and protect the bottom-up policy development process
• Act as a focal point for Internet community input into the RIR system.

The NRO as ASO

The NRO also functions in part as ICANN's Address Supporting Organization, or ASO. In this role the ASO makes IP address policy recommendations to ICANN.

Organizational Structure

The NRO consists of three suborganizations, including: the Executive Council, the Number Council and the Secretariat.

Executive Council

The Executive Council of the NRO is composed of the Chief Executives from each of the five RIRs. The positions rotate annually.

• Chairman: Axel Pawlik, RIPE NCC
• Secretary: Oscar Robles, LACNIC
• Treasurer: John Curran, ARIN
• Member: Alan Barrett, AFRINIC
• Member: Paul Wilson, APNIC

Secretariat

• Executive Secretary: German Valdez

Number Council

The NRO Number Council is an elected body that serves as the ASO Address Council. There responsibilities include overseeing IP Address policy recommendations, managing policy development activities and appointing members to the ICANN Board. Each RIR appoints three members, two selected from their respective regional policy forums and one selected from the Executive Board of each RIR.

The full list of members can be found here: Address Council Members

Number Resource Organization

Address Supporting Organization. Advises the Board with respect to policy issues relating to the operation, assignment, and management of Internet addresses (ICANN Bylaws).