Following the Joint SIG Session on SIG Guidelines Review at APRICOT 2026, I wanted to share outcomes and next steps with the broader community.
*Session Summary* The Joint SIG Session took place on 12 February 2026 with strong attendance: - 36 participants in-person - 4 participants online - Chair representatives from all four SIGs (Policy, NIR, Routing Security, Cooperation) - APNIC Executive Council members present The session featured a presentation by Christopher Hawker, Bertrand Cherrier, and Karl Kloppenborg reviewing their proposed changes to the SIG Guidelines, followed by extensive community discussion. *Key Themes from Discussion* The community discussion raised several important points: *Areas of General Agreement:* - SIG Guidelines need review and updating - Safeguards around critical SIGs (particularly Policy SIG) are warranted - Simplification and clarity would improve accessibility - Term limits for Chair/Co-Chair positions have merit - Community engagement and transparency must be central to any reform *Areas of Debate:* - Online vs. in-person voting: Strong community feedback to maintain hybrid/online voting options to accommodate the 56-country Asia-Pacific region - Chair succession requirements: Concerns that mandatory progression from Co-Chair to Chair might restrict opportunities - Timeline: Emphasis on adequate consultation time over rushing to conclusions - Balance: Finding the right balance between safeguards and accessibility *EC Outcome* Following the session, the APNIC Executive Council agreed in principle to form a Working Group to review the SIG Guidelines. *The EC noted "much work to be done before APNIC 62 in Mumbai," indicating an appropriate timeline for thorough community consultation.* *Materials Available* Several resources are available for community review: *Recording of the APNIC 61 Joint SIGs session:* - https://www.youtube.com/live/aGuhf8KUUC8 *Hawker et al. Proposal:* - Presentation slides from APRICOT 2026 - GitHub repository: https://github.com/thesysadmindev/apnic-sig-guidelines-review *Alternative Draft (Sweetser):* - Available at: https://github.com/tcsweetser/apnic-sig-guidelines-review - This draft incorporates community feedback from the Joint Session, emphasizing PDP alignment and addressing concerns raised about voting access and succession *Current Guidelines:* - https://www.apnic.net/community/participate/sigs/sig-guidelines/ *Next Steps* Watch for an upcoming call for Working Group volunteers. The WG will be responsible for: - Examining current guidelines and proposed changes - Conducting community consultations - Synthesizing feedback - Developing recommendations for the community *How to Participate* The community can engage in several ways: 1. *Mailing Lists: *Continue discussions on [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] 2. *GitHub: *Review and comment on posted proposals 3. *Regional Forums: *Engage through local/regional internet governance forums and NOGs 4. *Working Group: *Volunteer when the call is issued 5. *Future APNIC Meetings: *Participate in discussions at APNIC 62 and beyond *Request for Feedback* To inform the Working Group process, community input on key questions would be valuable: - What aspects of current SIG operations work well and should be preserved? - What problems or gaps need addressing? - What governance mechanisms best balance safeguards with accessibility? - How can we ensure diverse regional participation in SIG leadership and decision-making? Please share your thoughts on this list or through the channels above. *Appreciation* Thank you to Christopher Hawker, Bertrand Cherrier, and Karl Kloppenborg for initiating this important discussion and developing a comprehensive proposal. Thanks also to all who participated in the Joint Session - the thoughtful, engaged discussion demonstrated the strength of our community. The SIG Chairs (Bikram Shrestha - Policy, Oanh Nguyen - NIR, Joy Chan - Cooperation, and myself - Routing Security) look forward to continued community engagement on this important governance matter. *Warm regards,* Terry Sweetser Chair, Routing Security SIG (on behalf of Joint SIG Session facilitators)
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