About NRS
About Us
The Number Resource Society (NRS) is a global non-profit advocating for IP address ownership, decentralized Internet governance and member empowerment.
The issue
IP addresses are the most fundamental component of the Internet, yet their ownership remains an issue. According to the Number Resource Organization, the collective body of the regional Internet registries, IP addresses are not owned by the businesses operating on them. The issue is further complicated because IP addresses lack intrinsic value.
These IP addresses are currently managed by five regional Internet registries (RIRs). Despite the RIRs’ claim that “the community owns IP”, the addresses are in fact in the hands of a very select few: policy specialists and RIR executives who use their knowledge and position to set and execute policies that directly decide who has the rights to an IP address, effectively deciding who can connect to the Internet. They even have the power to reclaim any company’s, or even any nation’s, IP addresses by setting a relevant policy, effectively taking an entire corporation or nation off the Internet.
This is a dangerous situation for both Internet businesses and the Internet.
Our position
NRS believes the rights to the unique registration of IP addresses in a globally coordinated database should be owned by the companies that are running the networks, not by one centralized body deciding the fate of Internet access for everyone.
NRS helps business owners control the future of their businesses by educating them about their IP address registration rights, with the goal of enabling them to own those rights.
Our mission
To empower and protect our members with quality member services, so that their interests are safe and secure and their rights are protected. We want to empower our members to control the future of their businesses by truly owning their IP addresses.
Our vision
To give business owners back their voice and rights by helping them own their IPs, so they can control and protect their own businesses.
Our goals
- Clarify the ownership of IP addresses.
- Campaign for a free market for IP addresses.
- Cut the overhead and bureaucratic costs of the current Internet governance organizations.
- Make IP address policies easy to understand for the common end-user.
- Keep our members fully informed of current developments in IP address policy.
- Reduce the membership fees of regional Internet registries.
- Endorse election candidates who truly represent you in the critical positions of Internet governance organizations.
How the work connects
From number resource dependence to member agency.
NRS begins with the business reality behind every IP address: the people running a network need a clear understanding of the registry system, a way to act together and a voice in the decisions that shape their future.
Understand the exposure
NRS Shield explains why control of number resources is a practical business and governance question.
Read NRS ShieldChoose authority carefully
POA and representation are separate decisions. Their scope should be visible before anyone acts for a member.
Understand POA and representationFollow the public record
Current issues and historical actions are kept in separate places so readers can see what requires attention now.
See actions and evidence
Our members
Browse the member directory
Testimonials
Historical statements
I have gained significant knowledge about Internet governance. I truly valued the collaborative effort in creating a visual representation of our involvement as internet service providers, and so on. I hope NRS continues to operate in this positive manner. The time spent together with NRS and fellow Internet players was genuinely enjoyable.
NRS has raised issues that are in the news, and we completely agree with them on the approach that aims to make things happen clearly, not through intimidation but through the desire to serve.
We thank NRS for its very edifying seminar which was a panel made up of all the stakeholders with an interactive debate which allowed us all to ask questions and understand the issues surrounding good governance. We wish NRS good luck.
NRS deserves the spotlight. Their seminar was a great success here in Burundi. The theme is chosen to interest end users but also internet service providers, etc. The challenge faced by NRS is great and we wish them great success.
It was a very nice seminar that we took part in. I really appreciated the theme: good governance of the Internet but above all NRS has equipped itself with experienced people to develop this very vast theme, full of complexity. We wish NRS to move forward and clean up this environment which has become very dangerous.
y.tianFirst published Updated