If a federation feed is unavailable for an extended period of time (length to be decided but as least a month) due to either policy violations or metadata link unavailability, the federation is put into a technical suspension status under the provisions of section 3.6 of the eduGAIN Constitution (automatic suspension). (1) 

• In the period proceeding suspension eduGAIN support will make effort to contact the federation representatives and try to resolve the problem.
• Federations which are in the technical suspension will be listed in a separate section of the members status page on the eduGAIN technical site. The reason for the suspension will will be visible in the details window.
• For federations in the technical suspension no metadata pull would be done in particular no validation alerts would be sent until the status is changed by the OT. The status page would of course have the link to metadata validation, so that the federation is able to test its current feed before asking us to lift the suspension.
• To make sure that the federation is aware of the problem a weekly reminder would be sent automatically.
• The suspension will be lifted after the federation representative contacts eduGAIN support(2) and informs about rectifying the problem. The OT will verify the metadata and if validation succeed will lift the suspension.
• The OT will inform the SG about cases of applying or lifting technical suspensions.(3)

Terry's notes...

1) I think there is some context missing here, i.e why is the federation feed unavailable? Something must have occurred that resulted in the unavailable feed. For someone unfamiliar with the operation of eduGAIN they may question how a policy violation could impact the feed. I don't think you can assume the reader will know that there is a automated policy verification process in place that can stop a federations feed. Referencing other processes that relate to this process may help.

2) The contact details for eduGAIN support need to be clearly provided to the suspended federation in all communications and on their status page.

3) Will there be any time frames or schedule provided for when the SG is notified. For example.

    - 1 week prior to suspension the SG is notified of pending suspension

    - On the day of suspension the SG is notified

    - On the day of lifting suspension the SG is notified

    * All suspended Federations are reported at each SG meeting. Which federation, how long they have been suspended, why, etc.