- Final draft of the Internet number governance document has been published following public feedback.
- Document outlines roles, responsibilities, and accountability of the five RIRs under the NRO framework.
What happened: A year-long discussion among Regional Internet Registries concludes with a draft governance framework for the NRO and RIRs
The Regional Internet Registries (RIRs) have concluded their community consultation process and released a final draft of the RIR Governance and Accountability Review document. This initiative, first launched in early 2023, was coordinated through the Number Resource Organization (NRO), which represents the five RIRs: AFRINIC, APNIC, ARIN, LACNIC, and RIPE NCC.
The final draft outlines a shared governance model and clarifies responsibilities between individual RIRs and the NRO, especially around transparency, accountability, and cooperation. According to APNIC’s blog post, the draft integrates community feedback received over the past year through multiple public consultations and discussions.
The revised document is not a binding agreement but a governance guideline. It complements existing Memorandums of Understanding among the RIRs, reinforcing their cooperative structure without replacing legal frameworks.
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Why this is important
The finalisation of this governance document matters because it directly affects how global Internet number resources are managed. As the Internet continues to expand, with IPv6 deployment accelerating and digital infrastructure growing in complexity, clear and accountable governance is critical. The RIR system underpins the allocation of IP addresses and Autonomous System Numbers (ASNs), which are vital to maintaining the Internet’s stability.
Although the draft has no legal force, it sets shared expectations that could increase trust among RIR communities and external stakeholders, such as governments and technical bodies. The process also shows a continued commitment to multistakeholder Internet governance — a model facing growing scrutiny, particularly as some regions see increasing state involvement in Internet infrastructure.
With AFRINIC recently emerging from a court-appointed receivership and RIPE NCC facing member concerns about financial transparency, the new framework could also serve as a stabilising force. By adopting common standards, the RIRs may prevent future governance disputes and ensure more consistent accountability across regions.
