Reservation of IPv6 Address Block 44::/16 for Amateur Radio Digital Communications (44Net)
draft-ursini-44net-ipv6-allocation-01

Network Working Group                                       P. L. Ursini
Internet-Draft                    Paducah Internet Exchange (Paducah IX)
Intended status: Informational                           2 November 2025
Expires: 6 May 2026

  Reservation of IPv6 Address Block 44::/16 for Amateur Radio Digital
                         Communications (44Net)
                 draft-ursini-44net-ipv6-allocation-01

Abstract

   This document proposes the reservation of the IPv6 address block
   44::/16 for use by the global amateur radio community.  The
   allocation would serve as the IPv6 successor to the legacy IPv4
   network 44.0.0.0/8, historically known as AMPRNet or 44Net, which has
   provided a unified, non-commercial address space for amateur radio
   digital communications for more than four decades.

   The goal of this proposal is to maintain global cohesion and routing
   consistency for amateur radio networks as they transition to IPv6,
   while preserving the service's unique social and regulatory context.
   Amateur networks operate under national licensing frameworks and are
   limited to educational, experimental, and public-service purposes,
   distinguishing them from commercial Internet use.  The proposed
   prefix would remain part of the global unicast routing table,
   enabling interoperability, research, and gateway connectivity between
   amateur systems and the wider Internet.

   This document outlines the historical rationale for an amateur radio
   IPv6 allocation, describes the technical and governance
   considerations for maintaining a contiguous and hierarchically
   managed address space, and specifies the IANA action required to
   reserve 44::/16 as a special-purpose global IPv6 prefix for amateur
   radio use.

Note

   This Internet-Draft is submitted in full conformance with the
   provisions of BCP 78 and BCP 79.

Status of This Memo

   This Internet-Draft is submitted in full conformance with the
   provisions of BCP 78 and BCP 79.

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Table of Contents

   1.  Introduction  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
   2.  Problem Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
   3.  Rationale for an Amateur Radio IPv6 Allocation  . . . . . . .   5
     3.1.  Historical Significance and Community Needs . . . . . . .   5
   4.  Technical and Social Distinction from Commercial Internet
           Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   7
   5.  Technical Considerations for 44::/16 Usage  . . . . . . . . .   8
     5.1.  Routing and Registry Model for 44::/16  . . . . . . . . .   8
     5.2.  Addressing Plan and Prefix Utilization  . . . . . . . . .  10
   6.  Security Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  11
   7.  IANA Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  12
   8.  Conclusion  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  13
   9.  Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  14
   10. Normative References  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  14
   11. Informative References  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  14
   Author's Address  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  15

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1.  Introduction

   In 1981, the IPv4 network block 44.0.0.0/8 was assigned for use by
   licensed amateur radio operators worldwide.  This allocation known as
   the Amateur Packet Radio Network (AMPRNet or 44Net) provided over
   sixteen million IPv4 addresses dedicated to experimentation,
   education, and digital communications within the amateur service.
   The foresight of early amateur radio pioneers such as Hank Magnuski
   (KA6M) and others ensured that amateur networks could participate in
   the emerging Internet ecosystem, applying packet networking
   principles to radio-based communications.

   For more than four decades, this globally coordinated allocation has
   enabled licensed operators and organizations to conduct research and
   experimentation using Internet protocols over radio links, microwave
   backbones, and mesh networks.  Amateur stations have developed and
   refined technologies such as AX.25, TCP/IP over radio, and wireless
   routing protocols, all while adhering to national amateur radio
   regulations that prohibit commercial activity and require operator
   identification and transparency.  These policies distinguish amateur
   networks from the commercial Internet while maintaining open
   interconnection 44Net has always been a public, routable, and
   cooperative part of the Internet infrastructure.

   As IPv4 addresses have become scarce and IPv6 adoption continues to
   expand, the need for a unified IPv6 successor to 44Net has become
   increasingly clear.  Portions of the legacy 44/8 block have been
   returned or repurposed, and the remaining space continues to support
   active experimental networks.  However, no equivalent IPv6 allocation
   exists for amateur radio today.  Under current Regional Internet
   Registry (RIR) policies, there is no straightforward mechanism for a
   globally distributed, non-commercial service such as amateur radio to
   obtain a single, coherent IPv6 prefix that can be used consistently
   across all regions.

   This document therefore proposes the reservation of 44::/16 in the
   global IPv6 address space for use by the amateur radio community.
   This allocation would serve as the IPv6 counterpart to the legacy
   44/8, preserving both operational continuity and symbolic identity
   while enabling modern addressing, routing, and security practices.
   The 44::/16 prefix would provide sufficient space for global
   expansion and could be hierarchically delegated through existing RIRs
   and local Internet registries (LIRs) to ensure distributed governance
   consistent with Internet best practices.

   The following sections describe the rationale for this proposal, its
   historical significance, and the technical and policy considerations
   associated with maintaining a unified, non-commercial IPv6 address

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   space for amateur radio experimentation and public service.  This
   reservation would allow amateur digital networks to continue
   contributing to Internet research, education, and emergency
   communications in the IPv6 era, maintaining the community's legacy as
   an integral part of Internet history.

2.  Problem Statement

   Despite widespread deployment of IPv6, the global amateur radio
   community lacks an equivalent IPv6 address space to the long-standing
   IPv4 44/8 AMPRNet allocation.  Individual operators and amateur
   organizations currently depend on commercial Internet providers or
   Regional Internet Registries (RIRs) for IPv6 connectivity processes
   that are often misaligned with the amateur service's non-commercial
   and volunteer nature.  Many operators do not qualify for direct RIR
   allocations, and provider-assigned prefixes are transient, not
   portable, and frequently filtered, making them unsuitable for long-
   term experimental networks.

   The absence of a unified IPv6 allocation fragments the amateur
   community's experimental and emergency communications networks.
   Without a single globally recognized prefix, operators cannot
   reliably coordinate routing, DNS, or dual-stack interoperability with
   the existing 44/8 IPv4 infrastructure.  This lack of cohesion
   inhibits research collaboration and complicates the ongoing
   transition to IPv6 within a service that has historically relied on
   globally routable, stable addressing.

   While some Regional Internet Registries do allow individuals or
   organizations to receive IPv6 allocations, others reserve that
   capability for ISPs or large institutions.  Even where permitted,
   such assignments are drawn from ordinary unicast space and lack the
   cohesion, recognizability, and global identity that have defined
   44Net for decades.  If each amateur society or operator received an
   unrelated prefix within its regional RIR pool, those addresses would
   appear as ordinary commercial space with no shared heritage or policy
   context.  The result would be a patchwork of independent allocations
   rather than a cohesive, globally identifiable address family
   representing the amateur radio service.

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   This proposal does not replace the RIR system but builds on it.  The
   goal is for IANA to reserve 44::/16 as a unified global allocation
   and then work with the RIRs to subdivide it under a coordinated
   global policy framework.  Within each RIR, national amateur radio
   societies and local Internet registries (LIRs) could administer sub-
   allocations just as they do today.  This approach operates entirely
   within existing policy mechanisms while preserving a single, globally
   aggregated address family that remains easily recognizable in
   routing, research, and coordination.

   Amateur radio is internationally regulated under the International
   Telecommunication Union (ITU) Radio Regulations, with licensed
   operators active in nearly every country.  Because RIR charters limit
   allocations to their respective territories Section 2.2 of [RFC7020],
   a coordinated IANA reservation ensures that all regions can
   participate under harmonized policy terms rather than through
   isolated, region-specific efforts.  Implemented through the existing
   IANA-RIR framework, a single global prefix is the most practical and
   policy-consistent means of maintaining global routing cohesion and
   operational consistency for amateur radio digital communications.

3.  Rationale for an Amateur Radio IPv6 Allocation

3.1.  Historical Significance and Community Needs

   The amateur radio community has a long history of using dedicated IP
   address space to advance education, research, and technical
   experimentation.  The IPv4 allocation of 44.0.0.0/8 approved in the
   early 1980s under the stewardship of Jon Postel and established
   through the efforts of Brian Kantor (WB6CYT) and collaborators at the
   University of California, San Diego ( [Kantor44net] ) became the
   foundation for a worldwide amateur digital network known as the
   Amateur Packet Radio Network (AMPRNet or 44Net).  Over the subsequent
   four decades, thousands of licensed operators, clubs, and research
   institutions have used this space to interconnect packet radio
   systems, implement TCP/IP over RF, develop mesh routing technologies,
   and explore interoperability between amateur and academic networks.
   These efforts demonstrated the enduring value of maintaining a
   unified, globally routable address range that identifies and connects
   the amateur service as a cohesive and technically innovative
   community.

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   Allocating 44::/16 for amateur radio continues this legacy in the
   IPv6 era.  It ensures that the next generation of digital
   experimentation, emergency communications, and educational outreach
   can transition to IPv6 without fragmentation or loss of identity.  A
   single, contiguous prefix allows amateur radio networks to remain
   globally coherent, easily recognized in routing, and operationally
   distinct from commercial or private networks while still
   interoperating with the Internet at large.

   Without a common allocation, amateur operators would need to request
   IPv6 resources individually or through national organizations from
   their respective RIRs.  This would produce multiple unrelated
   prefixes, differing policies, and inconsistent address management
   across regions.  Such fragmentation undermines the efficiency goals
   of IPv6 routing and makes global coordination difficult.  A unified
   /16 space, subdivided by the RIRs for local administration, preserves
   hierarchical aggregation and maintains a clean, scalable routing
   model.  This approach avoids unnecessary route-table growth and
   supports policy uniformity without granting control to any single
   organization.

   The alternative of using non-routable IPv6 space, such as Unique
   Local Addresses (ULAs), was considered but rejected.  Amateur
   networks often serve public functions including research, remote
   control of equipment, and emergency communications that require
   bidirectional Internet reachability.  ULA space would isolate these
   networks from the global Internet, eliminating one of the greatest
   benefits of the original 44Net: its ability to interoperate with
   external systems for experimentation, coordination, and public
   service.

   Finally, while national RIR policies allow organizations to obtain
   IPv6 space, the process is often impractical for individual amateur
   operators.  The global amateur service consists largely of volunteers
   and hobbyists who do not operate commercial networks or meet RIR
   criteria for membership or large-scale deployment.  A community
   allocation ensures equitable access to globally routable IPv6 space
   for all licensed amateurs, lowering barriers to participation and
   preserving the educational and experimental spirit that has defined
   amateur networking for over forty years.

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4.  Technical and Social Distinction from Commercial Internet Use

   As with the historical 44/8 allocation, this space is intended solely
   for lawful activities within the amateur radio service as defined by
   national administrations and the International Telecommunication
   Union (ITU).  These include technical experimentation, education,
   public-service and emergency communications, community resilience
   projects, and the advancement of radio science and digital
   communications techniques.  The 44::/16 address space provides a
   framework for these activities to operate openly on the Internet
   while remaining governed by the non-commercial, self-identified, and
   cooperative principles that distinguish the amateur service from
   commercial or governmental networks.

   These restrictions differentiate amateur radio networking from
   general commercial Internet use.  Much like spectrum allocations,
   this IP address space represents a community resource governed by
   eligibility and conduct rules.  Operators identify themselves by call
   sign, observe national content restrictions, and maintain
   transparency in network operation.  The result is a global, self-
   regulated community network within the broader Internet openly
   connected, but socially and technically distinct in purpose.  The
   44::/16 space will be fully routable and capable of interconnection
   with the public Internet, yet its use will remain guided by the
   cooperative norms of the amateur service rather than by market or
   commercial motives.

   A major motivation for maintaining this distinction is the proven
   public-service role of amateur radio digital networks.  Amateur
   operators have provided emergency communications during disasters
   when conventional systems were unavailable, using packet radio,
   microwave links, and mesh networks to carry email, voice, and
   telemetry.  Recognizing this, allocating a well-defined and stable
   IPv6 prefix allows emergency networks to integrate seamlessly with
   Internet-connected systems such as municipal servers or disaster-
   response applications without confusion or inconsistent routing
   treatment.  Network operators can easily identify traffic from
   44::/16 as originating from volunteer-operated, non-commercial
   infrastructure that often supports public safety functions.

   Beyond emergency use, a globally coordinated amateur IPv6 space also
   supports research and innovation.  The amateur community has a long
   record of pioneering techniques later adopted by the wider Internet,
   including early TCP/IP over radio, packet switching, and wireless
   mesh networking.  Providing a contiguous IPv6 block for
   experimentation allows such work to continue in a structured,
   globally consistent environment.  Projects in fields such as delay-
   tolerant networking, telemetry, and novel routing can be deployed

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   across 44::/16 with clear attribution and accountability.  In this
   way, the amateur service continues its historical role as a proving
   ground for technical innovation, bridging hobbyist experimentation
   with the evolution of the global Internet.

   Beyond its community and governance value, the reservation of 44::/16
   also serves as a catalyst for broader IPv6 adoption.  Many amateur
   operators, educational programs, and technical volunteers continue to
   rely on IPv4-based infrastructure simply because an organized path to
   IPv6 deployment has not existed within the amateur domain.
   Establishing a globally recognized IPv6 prefix gives these users a
   tangible reason to learn, deploy, and experiment with IPv6
   technologies from address planning and router configuration to DNS,
   BGP, and security.  This will help cultivate the next generation of
   network engineers and innovators by linking practical IPv6 skills
   with real-world, public-benefit experimentation.  In this way, the
   44::/16 allocation not only preserves a legacy, but also strengthens
   the overall IPv6 ecosystem through education and participation.

5.  Technical Considerations for 44::/16 Usage

5.1.  Routing and Registry Model for 44::/16

   This document proposes that 44::/16 be reserved by IANA and
   subdivided among the five Regional Internet Registries (RIRs), each
   receiving a contiguous allocation (for example, a /19).  Each RIR
   would then issue sub-allocations to eligible amateur radio
   organizations and licensed operators under a unified global policy
   framework.  This approach maintains historical continuity with
   earlier amateur digital communication networks that operated under
   IPv4 network 44/8 (commonly referred to as AMPRNet or 44Net) while
   integrating fully with the existing IPv6 number resource governance
   model.

   Under this model, 44::/16 remains under IANA oversight, with
   operational administration distributed through the established RIR
   system.  This ensures transparency, policy consistency, and
   accountability while preserving alignment with standard Internet
   number resource management practices.  The RIRs would continue to act
   as the authoritative stewards and policy regulators, while individual
   amateur organizations would function as downstream members analogous
   to Local Internet Registries (LIRs), ISPs, or end-user organizations.
   This structure prevents any single entity from exercising unilateral
   control over the address space and maintains decentralized governance
   consistent with global Internet principles.

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   This arrangement would parallel existing global number resource
   policies described in the RIR frameworks (for example, ARIN NRPM
   Section 10), in which IANA maintains the root allocation and
   delegates to the RIRs under a globally coordinated policy approved by
   all regions.  The intent of this document is to establish the
   technical reservation through the IETF process, with subsequent
   policy coordination to occur through the RIR global policy
   mechanisms.

   Regional amateur radio organizations may apply to their respective
   RIRs for address space allocations under harmonized policy terms that
   restrict usage to non-commercial, licensed amateur service purposes.
   This allows each RIR to implement regionally appropriate procedures
   while maintaining global cohesion through consistent eligibility and
   operational guidelines.

   From a technical perspective, 44::/16 would be listed in the
   [IANA-IPV6-SP] registry [IANA-IPV6-SP].  The registry entry should
   include the following attribute values:

   Source  True

   Destination  True

   Forwardable  True

   Globally Reachable  True

   Reserved-by-Protocol  False

   These parameters indicate that the prefix is globally routable and
   should be treated as standard unicast space, consistent with other
   globally reachable allocations.

   Operators who maintain bogon or unallocated-prefix filters will need
   to update them once 44::/16 is entered into the IANA IPv6 Special-
   Purpose Address Registry.  Until that update occurs, prefixes derived
   from 44::/16 may be inadvertently filtered as unallocated space.
   This is a normal operational transition that has accompanied previous
   IANA allocations, and it can be mitigated through coordination with
   bogon-list maintainers and routing security communities.  No protocol
   changes or router software updates are required; only filter data
   sources will need to reflect the new allocation status.

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   This structure preserves a contiguous and globally recognizable
   address family while distributing administrative authority through
   existing RIR mechanisms.  It maintains continuity with the historical
   amateur coordination model, avoids centralization, and leverages the
   stability and neutrality of the RIR framework to ensure long-term
   sustainability of non-commercial amateur IPv6 networks.

5.2.  Addressing Plan and Prefix Utilization

   While the specific addressing plan for 44::/16 will be developed
   within the amateur radio community and coordinated through the
   Regional Internet Registries (RIRs), several technical guidelines and
   considerations are anticipated.

   *Size of End-User Assignments:* It is expected that individual
   amateur operators or organizations (such as clubs or repeater groups)
   will receive at least a /48, consistent with IPv6 subnetting
   requirements for SLAAC autoconfiguration.  In practice, a /48 per
   licensee or entity may be the standard assignment size, providing up
   to 65,536 internal subnets sufficient for any foreseeable amateur
   station, research, or emergency communications deployment.  Even if
   every amateur worldwide were assigned a /48, the 44::/16 block would
   provide several orders of magnitude more capacity than needed,
   ensuring long-term scalability and avoiding renumbering pressure.

   *Hierarchical Structure:* The 44::/16 prefix may be subdivided
   hierarchically for coordination purposes.  For example, each RIR
   could manage a defined regional prefix (e.g., 44:0000::/24 for one
   region, 44:0100::/24 for another) according to their existing
   geographical boundaries.  Within each region, national amateur
   societies or community registries could administer sub-allocations to
   licensed operators.  This structure parallels how IPv4 44Net
   allocations were historically coordinated, while aligning with the
   modern RIR model for accountability, data accuracy, and policy
   consistency.

   *Interoperability with Legacy 44Net:* During transition, many systems
   will operate in dual-stack mode, utilizing both IPv4 44.0.0.0/8 and
   IPv6 44::/16.  Gateways may employ NAT64, SIIT, or other translation
   techniques to interconnect IPv4-only and IPv6-only amateur systems.
   Because 44::/16 preserves conceptual continuity with the original
   "44" addressing identity, operators can define clear and predictable
   mapping schemes for protocol translation or symbolic references.
   This continuity simplifies network documentation, community
   education, and legacy system adaptation during the IPv6 transition
   period.

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   Overall, the allocation of a large contiguous block ensures technical
   flexibility, equitable distribution, and operational simplicity.  It
   provides a cohesive global foundation for experimentation, research,
   and emergency communication while remaining compatible with existing
   Internet routing and address management practices.

6.  Security Considerations

   Reservation of 44::/16 does not introduce any new security
   vulnerabilities to the Internet architecture or its protocols.  The
   block functions as ordinary global unicast space from a technical
   perspective; it merely identifies a coordinated set of users with a
   shared non-commercial purpose.  Network operators should treat this
   prefix as they would any other globally routable allocation when
   applying filtering, validation, and monitoring practices.

   *Authorized vs. Unrestricted Use:* Only licensed amateur operators
   and recognized amateur organizations will be authorized to use
   address space derived from 44::/16.  However, there is no technical
   mechanism in the IPv6 protocol to enforce that limitation.  As with
   any other allocated prefix, unauthorized or spoofed use is possible.
   Standard operational practices such as ingress filtering ([BCP38]),
   route-origin validation, and coordination through RIR abuse contacts
   provide the best mitigations against such misuse.

   *Operational Security and Transparency:* Amateur radio systems are
   generally operated by volunteers and may host experimental or lightly
   secured services.  Some amateur applications also transmit
   identifying information, such as call signs, in cleartext due to
   regulatory requirements.  These characteristics could make nodes
   using this prefix more observable to adversaries.  Operators are
   encouraged to follow general network security practices timely
   patching, access controls, and minimal exposure of unnecessary
   services even within the constraints of amateur regulations.

   *Emergency and Public Service Use:* Amateur networks are sometimes
   employed during emergency or disaster scenarios to carry non-
   commercial traffic that may contain sensitive personal or situational
   data.  Because amateur regulations often restrict encryption, users
   should remain aware that transmissions over the public Internet or
   via shared gateways may be visible to third parties.  The reservation
   of 44::/16 neither creates nor amplifies this risk; it simply extends
   existing practices into IPv6.

   Overall, the security profile of 44::/16 will depend on the diligence
   of its participants and the cooperative monitoring framework
   maintained through the RIRs and amateur organizations that administer
   sub-allocations.  By assigning this space through well-defined

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   registry channels, potential abuse can be traced and resolved through
   established operational contacts, improving accountability compared
   to fragmented, unregistered use.

7.  IANA Considerations

   IANA is requested to reserve the IPv6 address block 44::/16 and
   record it in the IPv6 Special-Purpose Address Space [IANA-IPV6-SP]
   registry.

   This document uses the terminology and conventions defined in
   [RFC2119], [RFC8174], and [RFC5156].

   *  *Address Block:* 44::/16

   *  *Name/Description:* Amateur Radio IPv6 Address Space

   *  *Reservation Purpose:* Globally unique IPv6 address block for
      amateur radio digital communications networks.  This allocation
      serves as the IPv6 successor to the historical 44.0.0.0/8
      (AMPRNet) space, preserving a contiguous address family for
      worldwide amateur experimentation and non-commercial operation.

   *  *Administrative Model:* The 44::/16 block SHOULD be subdivided and
      issued to each Regional Internet Registry (RIR), which will in
      turn make sub-allocations to qualified amateur radio organizations
      and licensed operators in their regions.  This maintains RIR
      oversight, policy accountability, and decentralization, ensuring
      that no single organization has exclusive administrative control
      while enabling coordinated global usage under consistent
      eligibility criteria.

   *  *Routability:* This prefix is intended to be globally routable.
      It is not private or local-use; network operators SHOULD treat it
      as they would any other allocated unicast space.

   *  *Reverse DNS:* IANA SHOULD delegate the corresponding .ip6.arpa
      zone (e.g., 4.4.ip6.arpa) to RIR-managed name servers or to
      designated sub-delegates under coordination with IANA.

   The following attributes are to be registered in the IPv6 Special-
   Purpose Address Space registry:

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                     +======================+=======+
                     | Field                | Value |
                     +======================+=======+
                     | Source               | True  |
                     +----------------------+-------+
                     | Destination          | True  |
                     +----------------------+-------+
                     | Forwardable          | True  |
                     +----------------------+-------+
                     | Globally Reachable   | True  |
                     +----------------------+-------+
                     | Reserved-by-Protocol | False |
                     +----------------------+-------+

                          Table 1: IPv6 Special-
                          Purpose Attributes for
                                 44::/16

   Upon reservation, IANA SHOULD notify all RIRs to prevent accidental
   overlap with future unicast allocations.  The reservation of 44::/16
   does not create any additional protocol parameters or code points
   beyond the address block and its reverse DNS delegation.

8.  Conclusion

   The reservation of 44::/16 provides a practical and historically
   consistent framework for enabling continued amateur radio innovation
   in the IPv6 era.  It preserves the collaborative and experimental
   spirit that characterized the legacy 44.0.0.0/8 network, while
   modernizing its governance under the established Regional Internet
   Registry (RIR) system.  This ensures that amateur networks remain
   globally coordinated, non-commercial, and technically aligned with
   current Internet addressing practices.

   By distributing the address space among the RIRs, this approach
   maintains policy accountability and regional fairness while keeping
   the global prefix contiguous and recognizable.  It prevents
   administrative centralization, supports transparency through existing
   RIR oversight mechanisms, and allows organizations such as national
   amateur associations to operate as Local Internet Registries (LIRs)
   within a harmonized global framework.  This balance between heritage
   and modern governance enables the amateur community to participate
   fully in IPv6 while remaining distinct in purpose.

   The allocation of 44::/16 represents a proportionally small request
   within the vast IPv6 address space but offers significant educational
   and public benefit.  It affirms that the Internet continues to
   support experimentation, learning, and innovation by volunteer-driven

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   communities.  By bridging the legacy of 44Net with the infrastructure
   of IPv6, this proposal helps ensure that amateur radio's long
   tradition of advancing communications technology will continue to
   contribute meaningfully to the broader Internet ecosystem.

9.  Acknowledgments

   The author wishes to acknowledge the pioneering work of Brian Kantor
   (WB6CYT), whose vision and stewardship of the 44/8 AMPRNet allocation
   made global amateur Internet experimentation possible.  His
   contributions established the foundation upon which this IPv6
   proposal is built.

   The author also acknowledges his father, Louis F. Ursini, whose early
   involvement in Internet routing and coordination helped inspire this
   work.  His technical curiosity and commitment to open networking
   continue to influence the author's approach to collaborative Internet
   development.

10.  Normative References

   [RFC7020]  Housley, R., Conrad, D., and E. Kuerbis, "The Internet
              Numbers Registry System", RFC 7020, August 2013,
              <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc7020>.

   [RFC2119]  Bradner, S., "Key words for use in RFCs to Indicate
              Requirement Levels", RFC 2119, March 1997,
              <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc2119>.

   [RFC8174]  Leiba, B., "Ambiguity of Uppercase vs Lowercase in RFC
              2119 Key Words", RFC 8174, May 2017,
              <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc8174>.

   [RFC5156]  Hinden, B. and S. Deering, "Special-Purpose IPv6
              Addresses", RFC 5156, April 2008,
              <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc5156>.

11.  Informative References

   [Kantor44net]
              Kantor, B., "The AMPRNet (44Net) Project", 1981,
              <https://www.ampr.org/>.

   [BCP38]    P., F. and S. D., "Ingress Filtering for Multihomed
              Networks", BCP 84, RFC 3704, May 2000,
              <https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/bcp38>.

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   [IANA-IPV6-SP]
              IANA, "IANA IPv6 Special-Purpose Address Registry", 2024,
              <https://www.iana.org/assignments/iana-ipv6-special-
              registry/>.

Author's Address

   Preston Louis Ursini
   Paducah Internet Exchange (Paducah IX)
   1212 Helen Street
   Paducah, KY 42001
   United States
   Phone: +1 833-701-7823
   Email: preston@paducahix.net

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