This document discusses IP addressing and the internet registry structure. IP addresses are allocated by regional internet registries (RIRs) like ARIN, RIPE NCC, and APNIC according to standards set by ICANN/IANA. The RIRs further allocate addresses to national internet registries (NIRs) and local internet registries (LIRs), who then assign addresses to internet service providers (ISPs) and end users.