NRO NC Releases Status Report on RIR Governance Document Review

The Number Resource Organization Number Council (NRO NC) has published a status report outlining unresolved issues in the ongoing review of the second version of the RIR Governance Document. According to the official blog post, the report stems from feedback gathered during consultations across Regional Internet Registries (RIRs), webinars, and ICANN Public Comment sessions. The updated document will eventually require approval from both RIRs and ICANN.

Workshop Findings Highlight Remaining Discussion Points

Following a November 2025 workshop in Montevideo, the NRO NC reviewed feedback submitted through mailing lists, public forums, and ICANN-related sessions. While much of the governance framework is now finalized, the council identified several critical areas requiring further refinement. These include specific community concerns that drew higher volumes of comments during the consultation process.

Key findings from the report include:

• The need to revise specific language in response to community suggestions.
• Unaddressed or contentious topics flagged for additional discussion.
• A commitment to transparency in the editing process leading up to the final draft.

Stakeholders are encouraged to review the status report and provide feedback before the release of the final governance draft.

Why This Matters for Global Internet Governance

The RIR Governance Document is critical for managing Internet number resources, shaping how infrastructure is allocated and maintained globally. As the body responsible for overseeing global policy development, the NRO NC functions as both a representative of community concerns through the Address Supporting Organization (ASO) and a liaison to ICANN.

The governance review aims to balance operational consistency among RIRs while addressing localized priorities. Industry analysts note that this pivotal document could influence how emerging challenges, such as IPv6 adoption and resource allocations, are managed.

For context, each RIR operates across diverse geographic regions, including APNIC (Asia Pacific), ARIN (North America), and others. Harmonizing governance policies while accommodating region-specific issues has been a complex but essential process.

What’s Next for the RIR Governance Process?

The NRO NC has emphasized its commitment to stakeholder engagement and transparency as it prepares the document’s final draft. The revised timeline, published alongside the status report, signals that the draft will soon advance for RIR and ICANN approval.

Market observers highlight the importance of timely updates to avoid potential delays that could impact global policy development. With the draft expected to provide clearer language and address unresolved questions, the final stage of approval is likely to attract significant industry attention.

Will the updated governance plan achieve the balance needed to address diverse stakeholder concerns and global consistency? As the process unfolds, industry participants should remain actively engaged to ensure their voices are heard.

Read the full announcement on the APNIC Blog.