Packet Clearing House

Type:	Non-Profit Research
Industry:	Internet
Founded:	1994
Headquarters:	572-B Ruger Street, Box 29920 The Presidio of San Francisco, California
Country:	USA
Website:	www.pch.net
Key People
Michael LoBue, Executive Director Bill Woodcock, Research Director

Packet Clearing House (PCH) is a non-profit research organization dedicated in evaluating the operations of internet traffic exchange, routing economics and global network development. Since its foundation in 1994, the institute has become one of the leaders in the advocacy for neutral independent network interconnection. PCH also provides route-servers for main exchange points around the world.

Purpose

PCH is primarily focused on providing educational resources to everyone particularly about the internet topology and economics, routing and technology and traffic exchange policy through classes, meetings and distribution of educational materials. It also conducts research on technological, economic, and policy issues in related to Internet traffic exchange. The Internet Routing Topology Archive is the longest running research project of the institute which began in 1997. Internet Routing Topology Archive is a database of Internet topology measurements. In terms of policy, PCH helps policy developers understand the operations of the internet and explains how it affects the economic development and the living standards of people in all countries worldwide.

Projects

Packet Clearing House has different ongoing projects including:

• Construction of Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) in developing countries
• Operations of the Inter-Network Operations Center Dial-By-ASN (INOC-DBA) hotline phone system
• Support for the Domain Name System (DNS) resources
• Implementation of network research data collection initiatives
• Presentation of educational materials to promote a deeper understanding about the principles of the Internet Architecture as well as the implications of policies

People

The Packet Clearing House is composed Board of Directors, Technologists, Staffs and Volunteers who work together in handling the projects of the institute.The people behind the PCH include:

Board of Directors

• Steve Feldman
• Dorian Kim
• Bill Woodcock

Technologists

• Patrik Faltstrom
• Geoff Huston
• Bill Manning
• Dave Meyer
• Andrew Partan
• Lance Tatman
• Cathy Wittbrodt
• Bill Fenner
• Bill Woodcock
• Pindar Wong
• Richard Lamb

Staffs

• Michael LoBue, Executive Director
• Bill Woodcock, Research Director
• Bob Arasmith, Systems Director
• Vicky Shrestha, Software and Network Manager
• Jonny Martin, Internet Analyst
• Jeri Linder, Provisioning Engineer
• Indiver Badal, Peering Coordinator
• Bevil Wooding, Outreach Manager
• Kabindra Shrestha, Systems Engineer
• Peter Rowland, Office Manager
• Robert Martin Legène, Internet Infrastructure Specialist

Volunteers

• Rohan Mahy, VoIP engineering
• Rick Wesson,Programming and Database Analysis
• Sean Donelan, Project Coordination
• Antony Antony, Exchange Point Database
• Merike Kaeo, Security Policy Development

ICANN Involvement

The Packet Clearing House is an active participant in the different activities, conferences and providing comments and recommendations regarding the policies implemented by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Nummbers on all issues related to the security and stability of the DNS and the internet infrastructure as a whole. In 2009, PCH Research Director Bill Woodcock commented about the GNSO report of fast flux and pointed out that the Service Legal Agreements of fast flux operators worsens the digital divide and they abuse the domain name system.

Generic Names Supporting Organization. Develops and recommends to the Board substantive policies relating to generic top-level domains and other responsibilities set forth in the Bylaws (ICANN Bylaws).