The RIRs each have a geographic monopoly and at their creation, this is required by ICP-2 (the original). This has nothing to do with where you land on any of your subsequent questions. The NRO cartel has agreed to specific territories served by each RIR, granting each a geographic monopoly. Because organizations served by RIRs are not constrained by those boundaries, many operate in more than one region and the rules get fuzzy, but in general, territorial exclusivity is long established.

I’m not saying this is good or bad. I see benefits to it, but I also see reasons it might be better to phase it out.

In any case, it might be worth considering granting a certain right of a registrant to transfer the servicing of their registration to the RIR of their choosing.

On Nov 18, 2024, at 13:18, Noah <noah@neo.co.tz> wrote:

On Sun, 17 Nov 2024, 23:48 William Herrin, <bill@herrin.us> wrote:

On Sun, Nov 17, 2024 at 12:39 PM Noah <noah@neo.co.tz> wrote:
> On Sun, 17 Nov 2024, 22:06 David Conrad via NANOG, <nanog@nanog.org> wrote:
>> > 2. I'm not convinced that the service regions should be limited by the ICP to non-overlapping geographic territories.
>>
>> While geographic monopolies may have made sense in the past, it is unclear to me how/why they make sense today (unless the point is to create/perpetuate a cartel).
>
> I am curious as to what you mean by create/perpetuate a cartel?

A group of geographical monopolies who between them have total control
over what the essential service costs and whether anybody else can
perform it.

That doesn't make sense. Are we trying to imply that the RIR's are a geographic monopoly?

What makes an RIR? Is it, its administrators/managers of the registry or is it, its resource members and other stakeholders?

Every system has its own modus operandi. Last I checked, they are member based and rules of engagement are set by the members. If members want change in price, there is a process. One of which includes change of leadership with new mandate such as review of pricing etc.

Noah