ICP-2: Progress and Next Steps in Updating the RIR Governance Framework
April 10, 2026
By Esteban Lescano, Ricardo Patara and Jorge Villa, representatives of the LACNIC region in the NRO Number Council
The system of Regional Internet Registries (RIRs) is a core component of the Internet governance ecosystem: an open, inclusive, and community-driven model. Ensuring its continued effectiveness and legitimacy requires periodic review of the principles and criteria on which it is based.
In this context, the Number Resource Organization (NRO), which coordinates the five RIRs globally, is undertaking a revision of Internet Coordination Policy 2 (ICP-2). This policy defines the criteria for RIR recognition, the requirements for their continued operation, and the processes to follow if a registry is unable to operate effectively or, in extreme cases, if its recognition is revoked.
The original document dates back to 2001 and no longer reflects the current institutional and operational realities of the ecosystem. As a result, a review process was initiated in October 2023, incorporating input from the community across regions as well as through ICANN.
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The process has now entered a critical phase. After three rounds of public consultation—first on the principles the RIR system is expected to uphold, and later on versions 1 and 2 of the draft—the text is currently being refined from both a technical and editorial standpoint. This work incorporates community feedback and focuses on improving clarity, consistency, and practical usability. A current status report released a few weeks ago provides an overview of progress and highlights the main outstanding issues, in line with the commitment to transparency and traceability throughout the process.
In parallel, from March to May this year, these topics will continue to be addressed in meetings held within the ICANN framework and at RIR events. The aim is to keep the Internet community informed of ongoing developments and to ensure a well-prepared transition into the next draft version.
As part of ICANN 85 (Mumbai, 7–12 March 2026) and its Prep Week (23–25 February), the NRO Number Council, in its role as the ASO Address Council (ASO AC), shared updates on the ICP-2 review across several ICANN community groups, including the GAC (governments), ALAC (end users), SSAC (security and stability), ISPCP (connectivity providers), and the ICANN Board. Two public sessions were also held on this topic, with participation from interested members of the community. The second ASO AC public session at ICANN 85 is available here.