FYI - Suspension of Cogent access to ARIN Whois

Mon Jan 6 15:43:17 UTC 2020

On 22 Sep 2019, at 8:52 AM, Tim Burke <tb at tburke.us<mailto:tb at tburke.us>> wrote:

That is just The Cogent Way™, unfortunately. I just had (yet another) Cogent rep spam me using an email address that is _only_ used as an ARIN contact, trying to sell me bandwidth. When I called him out on it, with compliance at arin.net<mailto:compliance at arin.net> CCed, he backpedaled and claimed to obtain my information from Google.

ARIN has repeatedly informed Cogent that their use of the ARIN Whois for solicitation is contrary to the terms of use and that they must stop.  Despite ARIN’s multiple written demands to Cogent to cease these prohibited activities, ARIN has continued to receive complaints from registrants that Cogent continues to engage in these prohibited solicitation activities.

For this reason, ARIN has suspended Cogent Communications’ use of ARIN’s Whois database effective today and continuing for a period of six months.  For additional details please refer to https://www.arin.net/vault/about_us/corp_docs/20200106_whois_tos_violation.pdf    ARIN will restore Cogent’s access to the Whois database at an earlier time if Cogent meets certain conditions, including instructing its sales personnel not to engage in the prohibited solicitation activities.

Given the otherwise general availability of ARIN Whois, it is quite possible that Cogent personnel may evade the suspension via various means and continue their solicitation.  If that does occur, please inform us (via compliance at arin.net<mailto:compliance at arin.net>), as ARIN is prepared to extend the suspension and/or bring appropriate legal action.

FYI,
/John

John Curran
President and CEO
American Registry for Internet Numbers

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