arin and ops fora (was Re: AltDB?)

[David Conrad <drc () virtualized org>]

Lee,

On Jan 8, 2011, at 4:40 AM, Lee Howard wrote:
> I think that's a bit of what we've been trying to do with the Best Current Operational Practices BoFs.  We need a 
> place where operators can discuss and document BCOPs.

While I think BCOPs (and BCOP BoFs) are a great idea, I guess the question is how can folks be assured that ARIN would 
follow a NANOG community-defined  BCOP relating directly to ARIN operations. For example, if the NANOG community were 
to (reasonably) say "BCOP is to use IETF-defined standards for publishing and accessing resource registration data", 
I'd imagine ARIN might (reasonably) disagree and continue down the RWS path.

I suspect part of the issue is that ARIN is a monopoly provider of a variety public services that folks unrelated 
(directly) to ARIN must make use of. In other areas of public service provision, there are things like public utilities 
commissions that  (in theory) ensure the monopoly service provider acts in the public benefit when services are 
added/changed/deleted.  My impression is that the various WGs and SIGs in the other RIRs perform something similar to 
that function.  There doesn't appear to be anything similar in the ARIN region.

Regards,
-drc