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Re: US Gvt ipv6 change, associated agencies

  • From: Andrew C Burnette
  • Date: Tue Mar 18 11:14:09 2008

Darden, Patrick S. wrote:

I'm looking for documentation on how the US Government IPv6 mandate affects associated agencies--e.g. healthcare providers, non-profits, or any company that depends on US Gvt. funding, record keeping, or financial reimbursement for services rendered (e.g. via Medicare).

Over the past 5 years most US Gvt--Assoc. Agencies communications have moved from modem/BBS type systems to Internet based systems. With the mandate, IPv4 will still be available, but I would bet it will be less and less supported as time moves on. I would like to see what the Gvt. has planned....

I've googled, read FAQs, and looked over the docs at whitehouse.gov without much luck. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

--Patrick Darden

Patrick,

the mandate (note, it is an *unfunded* mandate) comes from the OMB.

Search terms including "OMB IPv6 mandate" will point you to useful information. Thus far, as with any such mandate, there will be "loads" of waivers in place, and providers wanting to do business with the US gov't may fall under such requirements. http://www.federalnewsradio.com/index.php?sid=1319907&nid=169 might also prove useful.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/egov/b-1-information.html

INTERNET PROTOCOL VERSION 6 (IPV6)
On August 2, 2005, the OMB Office of E-Gov and IT issued OMB Memorandum 05-22, “Transition Planning for Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6),” directing all Federal government agencies to transition their network backbones to the next generation of the Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6), by June 30, 2008. The memorandum identifies several key milestones and requirements for all Federal government agencies in support of the June 30, 2008 target date.

The existing protocol supporting the Internet today - Internet Protocol Version 4 (IPv4) – supports only 4 billion IP addresses, limiting the number of devices that can be given a unique, globally routable location on the Internet. This has constrained the growth of the Internet worldwide, and has limited the number of computers and other devices that can be connected to one another via the Internet. In contrast to IPv4, IPv6 provides an almost unlimited number of IP addresses, and offers enhanced mobility, security, and network management features. IPv6 supports the continued growth of the Internet and development of new business capabilities leveraging mobile, Internet connectivity.

The CIO Council will issue guidance to assist agencies with transition planning.