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 an organization which brings together the world's five Regional Internet Registries (RIRs).
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 in April 2005, shortly after it was incorporated.[1]
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
According to the NRO, its mission 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[2]
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.[3]
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