One might say the same about the IETF, which Randy likes to lampoon.
Not sure how it comes up in this context, as (as Randy loves to remind
us) while many operators attend, it is not first-and-foremost an
operational community. As to ICANN, I think Rich may be talking about
the registries and registrars for their DNS names, but not the agency
that coordinates them. At most, ICANN can give them suggestions. And
as for addresses, they get them from their local ISPs.
What ICANN and many of the registries have in fact done is make an
issue of domain name "tasting", which is a means by which some forms
of abusers change names rapidly to evade filters. That is a matter of
having the fox guard the henhouse, however; the registries make money
on names being sold, and "tasting" is a means of making a lot of
sales. So while some have good efforts there, not all are motivated to
fight abuse.
As to addresses, we can point to at least one entire ISP shut down as
most of the traffic coming from it was abusive. But for ISPs, it
becomes at least in part a matter of the amount of trouble they cause
their immediate neighbors. If they can link to other ISPs, who they
sell their services too is somewhat opaque to the wider world. And
since the abusers are not above "owning" systems, every network has
some subset of its subscribers to think about.
I agree with your sentiment, Rich, and empathize with your
frustration. Writing comments in blogs doesn't get the hard work of
tools and policy done, though. You have to take the next step.
On Dec 30, 2009, at 8:26 PM, Paul Vixie wrote:
Randy Bush <ra...@psg.com> writes:
If ARIN and/or RIPE and/or ICANN and/or anyone else were truly
interested in making a dent in the problem, then they would have
already
paid attention to our collective work product.
the rirs, the ietf, the icann, ... each think they are the top of the
mountain. we are supposed to come to them and pray. more likely
that
the itu will come to them and prey.
ARIN (an RIR) does not think in terms of mountains. the staff and
company
does what members and the elected board and elected advisory council
ask.
ARIN is a 501(c)(6) and sticks to its knitting, which thus far means
no
distinguished role in "spammers and their infrastructure" but that
could
change if someone writes a policy proposal which is adopted after the
normal policy development process.
please do consider whether ARIN could help with "spammers and their
infrastructure" and if so, write a policy draft to that effect.
ARIN is
responsive to community input, and has well established and well
publicized
mechanisms for receiving and processing community input. nobody has
to
come and pray, but likewise, nobody should expect ARIN to look for
mission
creep opportunities. ARIN will go on doing what the community asks,
no
less, no more. ARIN has no mechanism, as a company, for "[paying]
attention to [your] collective work product". our members, and the
public
at large who participates in ARIN's policy development process, do
that.
--
Paul Vixie
Chairman, ARIN BoT
KI6YSY
http://www.ipinc.net/IPv4.GIF