Hi, On Thu, Nov 18, 2021 at 6:05 AM Tim Chown <[email protected]> wrote:
[...] > Personally, I’d say just get on with IPv6. This gets my vote. > Sure, some more gunk can be found in the bottom of the IPv4 barrel, but it > won’t last long, and is only delaying the inevitable. Of course, a more > cynical > person might point out the value of the Class E block at even $10/IP, and the > market implications of opening it up, and who would benefit from that. The authors of these drafts are looking at the issue from a technical perspective. But there's also the policy issue to consider. If the IETF ever did reclassify these various bits and pieces as Unicast IPv4, there would need to be a new Global Policy (that's a term of art for one that gives instructions to IANA) and the RIRs would also need allocation policies for the new space, which they have been removing as they switch to registering transfers. Historically, Global Policies have taken about 18 months to get consensus in all five RIRs and then be ratified by the ICANN Board. But I don't think we could count on a policy directing IANA to allocate new IPv4 Unicast space to the RIRs to get a smooth ride in all five RIR communities. I wouldn't want to guess how long it would take to get all the policy pieces agreed and implemented.
