Presentation by Izumi Okutani at APRICOT 2017 on Wednesday, 1 March 2017.

1. Copyright © 2017 Japan Network Information Center
Proposal to Revise the
SIG Guidelines Document
Izumi Okutani
Japan Network Information Center (JPNIC)
Izumi[at]nic.ad.jp

2. Copyright © 2017 Japan Network Information Center
Background
• Proposal by Masato Yamanishi at APNIC42
1. Remote participation for SIG Chair/Co-Chair elections
2. Maintain staggered election terms of Chair/Co-Chair
term after resignation/removal
• Did not reach consensus at APNIC42
• However, support for continued discussions
1
As this is an important
document for the community,
I volunteered to work on further
revision of the proposal

3. Copyright © 2017 Japan Network Information Center
Why Revise now?
• Time to review the guidelines, to keep it up to
date (Approx. 10 years since the last update) for:
1. Growing new comers: Clear description of unwritten
shared understanding among long standing community
members
2. New SIG Chairs/Co-Chairs: To clearly understand
expected roles and responsibilities (esp. with travel
support since APNIC42)
3. Record and demonstration of Accountability of APNIC
community
2

4. Copyright © 2017 Japan Network Information Center
Problems to Address
• Current Chair/Co-Chair role description focus on
administrative steps, and little focus on principles
• The current section on removal of Chair/Co-Chair
is ambiguous and open ended on the reasons
• Carry on Masato’s proposal, on maintaining
staggered terms of Chair/Co-Chair: for SIG
continuity
3

5. Copyright © 2017 Japan Network Information Center
Proposal
1. Clear description of Chair/Co-Chair role to:
• Encourage and accommodate community discussions
• Consider all inputs in balanced manner before making
consensus decision
• Report the decision to the community (SIG & AMM)
2. Provide specific example on situation of removal
of Chair/Co-Chair by the community
• e.g., If Chair/Co-Chair does not fulfill responsibilities
described in relevant sections of the guidelines doc
3. For SIG continuity: If Chair/Co-Chair resigns or
removed in the middle of the term, new
Chair/Co-Chair takes over the remaining term
• To maintain staggered election term 4

6. Copyright © 2017 Japan Network Information Center
Clarify Role of Chair/Co-Chair
5
Current Proposal
(Add description as Chair/Co-Chair role)
Focus on
administrative steps
to be taken by
Chair/Co-Chair
l Facilitate discussions so that participants are
comfortable to express their opinions.
l Accommodate all newly expressed opinions, relevant
to the discussions topic at the SIG
l Before making consensus decision at the SIG, SIG
Chairs and/or Co-Chairs must explain to the
participants 1) What the question is or decision is to
be made. 2) Then open up the floor for the
participants to express their opinions.
l Chairs & Co-Chairs must consider all opinions
expressed in a balanced manner, before making the
consensus decision.
l The consensus decision by the Chairs and Co-
Chairs must be shared with the SIG participants.
l Report to the AGM on consensus must be
consistent with what was shared at the SIG.

7. Copyright © 2017 Japan Network Information Center
Provide Example of Removal
6
Current Proposal
Description on Chair/Co-Chair
removal is open ended, without
specific example.
“Section 2.6.1. Removing a Chair or
Co-Chair
If SIG members do not think that the
Chair or Co-Chair is sufficiently
performing their duties…”
Provide specific example: e.g., If
Chair/Co-Chair does not perform
roles and responsibilities described in
the SIG Guidelines documents.
“Section 2.6.1. Removing a Chair or
Co-Chair
If SIG members do not think that the
Chair or Co-Chair is sufficiently
performing their duties, such as
described in Sections 2.3, 2.4 and 2.5
of the SIG Guidelines document…”
(Sections 2.3-2.5 describe SIG Chair and Co-
Chair roles, Chair and Co-Chair responsibilities)

8. Copyright © 2017 Japan Network Information Center
Maintain staggered Election
terms for Chair/Co-Chair
7
Current Proposal
Elections occur yearly. Chair
elections and Co-Chair elections
occur in alternate years.
If Chair election and Co-Chair
election takes place in the same
year, Co-Chair's term of service
is one year.
No Change
(About staggered Elections for Chair and
Co-Chair, for the SIG Continuity)
No definition at the time of
Chair/Co-Chair resignation or
removal
If a current Chair/Co-Chair resigned or
was removed before the end of the term,
the successor takes over the remaining
term of the position, and not the regular
term. After the remaining term is
completed, back to the regular term
(Currently two years).
Carry on Masato’s
proposal

9. Copyright © 2017 Japan Network Information Center
Additional Note
• How to handle remote participation for for SIG
Chair/Co-Chair elections is not included in this
proposal
• Proposed by Masato but no consensus at APNIC 42
• I have prepared a separate presentation on this
topic for discussions
• Take one step back, and first discuss and observe a
direction which can be supported by the community
8

10. Copyright © 2017 Japan Network Information Center
Summary
• It’s time to revise the SIG Guidelines document
• It’s not being updated for almost 10 years
• It helps new comers and new Chairs/Co-Chairs
• Properly written, updated document demonstrates
accountability of our community
• Proposal components:
1. Describe principles of Chair/Co-Chairs roles
2. Provide example of Chair/Co-Chair removal; such as
not fulfilling responsibilities described in the doc
3. For SIG Continuity, maintain staggered election term:
even after Chair/Co-Chair resignation/removal
9

11. Copyright © 2017 Japan Network Information Center
Q&A
10