RFC 1466 (rfc1466) - Page 3 of 10

Guidelines for Management of IP Address Space

RFC 1466     Guidelines for Management of IP Address Space      May 1993


      d) is committed to allocate IP numbers according to
         the guidelines established by the IANA and the IR, and

      e) is committed to coordinate with the IR to establish
         qualifications and strategies for sub-allocations of
         the regional allocation.

   The distributed regional registry is empowered by the IANA and the IR
   to provide the network number registration function to a geographic
   area.  It is possible for network applicants to contact the IR
   directly.  Depending on the circumstances the network subscriber may
   be referred to the regional registry, but the IR will be prepared to
   service any network subscriber if necessary.

3.0  Allocation of the Network Number Space by the Internet Registry

   The Class A portion of the number space represents 50% of the total
   IP host addresses; Class B is 25% of the total; Class C is
   approximately 12% of the total.  Table 1 shows the current allocation
   of the IP network numbers.

                   Total           Allocated         Allocated (%)
   Class A           126               49              38%
   Class B         16383             7354              45%
   Class C       2097151            44014               2%

             Table 1: Network Number Statistics (May 1992) [2]

   Class A and B network numbers are a limited resource and therefore
   allocations from this space will be restricted.  The entire Class A
   number space will be retained by the IANA and the IR.  No allocations
   from the Class A network numbers will be made to distributed regional
   registries at this time. (See section 4.1.)

   Allocations from the Class B network number space will be restricted
   also.  Small blocks of numbers may be allocated to regional
   registries, which will be required to ensure that the allocation
   guidelines are met. The IR will monitor those allocations. (See
   section 4.2.)

   It is proposed that the IR, and any designated regional registries,
   allocate addresses in conformance with this overall scheme. Where
   there are qualifying regional registries established, primary
   responsibility for allocation within that block will be delegated to
   that registry. It should be noted that the Reseaux IP Europeens
   Network Coordination Center (RIPE NCC) had been allocated a block of
   Class C addresses (193.0.0 - 193.255.255) prior to the adoption of
   this proposal. The RIPE NCC has agreed to allocate the addresses



Gerich