On Mon, Jul 14, 2014 at 4:32 PM, Scott Helms <khelms@zcorum.com> wrote:
Matt,
While I understand your point _and_ I agree that in most cases an ISP should have an ASN. Having said that, I work with multiple operators around the US that have exactly one somewhat economical choice for connectivity to the rest of the Internet. In that case having a ASN is nice, but serves little to no practical purpose. For clarity's sake all 6 of the ones I am thinking about specifically have more than 5k broadband subs.
And as long as they're happy with their single upstream connectivity picture, more power to them. But the minute they're less than happy with their connectivity option, it would sure be nice to have their own ASN and their own IP space, so that going to a different upstream provider would be possible. Heck, even just having it as a *bargaining point* would be useful. By not having it, they're essentially locking the slave collar around their own neck, and handing the leash to their upstream, along with their wallet. As a freedom-of-choice loving person, it boggles my mind why anyone would subject their business to that level of slavery. But I do acknowledge your point, that for some category of people, they are happy as clams with that arrangement.
I continue to vehemently disagree with the notion that ASN = ISP since many/most of the ASNs represent business networks that have nothing to do with Internet access.
Oh, yes; totally agreed. It's a one-way relationship in my mind; it's nigh-on impossible to be a competitive ISP without an ASN; but in no way shape or form does having an ASN make you an ISP. Thanks! Matt