[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 89 (Tuesday, May 10, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-11168]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: May 10, 1994]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 1

[CC Docket No. 92-237, FCC 94-79]

 

Administration of the North American Numbering Plan

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: In light of the response to the Commission's earlier Notice of 
Inquiry and subsequent developments, the Commission has adopted and 
released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking concerning the future 
administration of the North American Numbering Plan and some narrower 
numbering issues. In its rulemaking notice, the Commission draws 
tentative conclusions, makes proposals, and seeks comment on these and 
related issues.

DATES: Comments must be filed on or before June 7, 1994, and reply 
comments must be filed on or before June 30, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peyton Wynns, Common Carrier `Bureau, 
Industry Analysis Division (202-632-0745), or Allen A. Barna, Common 
Carrier Bureau, Tariff Division (202-632-6917).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    This is a summary of the Commission's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 
(Notice), adopted March 30, 1994, and released April 4, 1994, FCC 94-
79, in the Common Carrier Docket No. 92-237 proceeding entitled, 
``Administration of the North American Numbering Plan'' (the Plan). 
This Notice follows the Commission's earlier Notice of Inquiry 
(Inquiry). See Administration of the North American Numbering Plan, CC 
Docket No. 92-237, 7 FCC Rcd 6837 (1992), 57 FR 53462 (Nov. 10, 1992).
    Before divestiture, the American Telephone and Telegraph Company 
(AT&T) developed and administered the Plan to coordinate the telephone 
numbers used in most of North America. As part of the 1984 divestiture 
of AT&T, administration of the Plan was transferred from AT&T to Bell 
Communications Research, Inc. (Bellcore). Following release of the 
Commission's Inquiry, Bellcore advised that it desired to relinquish 
administration of the Plan. In addition to the Commission's efforts, 
several industry groups are considering proposals to improve future 
administration of the Plan and to address specific numbering issues.
    Phase One of this proceeding primarily focuses on who should 
administer the Plan and how such administration might be improved. 
Phase Two primarily focuses on the planned expansion of Feature Group D 
(FGD) Carrier Identification Codes (CICs). The Commission adopted the 
Notice to present its tentative conclusions and rulemaking proposals, 
and also to seek comment on these and related matters. This action was 
taken pursuant to sections 1, 4(i), 201-205, and 403 of the 
Communications Act, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 151, 154(i), 201-205, and 
403.

Summary of Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

1. Phase One

    In the first phase of the Notice, the Commission tentatively 
concluded that no federal government agency is ideally suited to 
administer the U.S. portion of the Plan but that the Commission could 
best assume those ministerial functions if they are to be performed by 
any such agency. Among existing non-government agencies, the Commission 
sought comment on whether the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry 
Solutions (ATIS) or some component of ATIS could handle Plan 
administration. Noting the possible advantages of a new, non-government 
entity to handle such administration, the Commission also sought 
comment on whether such a new entity should be established for this 
purpose. The Commission then tentatively concluded that ministerial 
administration of the Plan should be undertaken by a single, non-
government entity established by the Commission and subject to its 
oversight, but also separate from the Commission and not closely 
identified with any particular industry segment. The Commission sought 
comment on these tentative conclusions and also on the appropriate 
parameters defining the mission, management, structure, functions, 
personnel, and capabilities of the new Plan administrator.
    2. To finance future administration of the Plan, the Commission 
tentatively concluded that it has authority under the Communications 
Act to establish a set of Commission numbering fees or to create a new 
fund to finance future Plan administration. The Commission sought 
comment on these and other possible funding mechanisms. For example, if 
only a small amount is needed each year to finance administration of 
the Plan, the Commission seeks comment on whether it should impose a 
numbering surcharge on one of the funds currently administered by the 
National Exchange Carrier Association or use a portion of the annual 
surplus from one or more of these funds. The Commission tentatively 
concluded that it should impose fees to offset the costs of regulating 
U.S. numbering resources and sought comment on this and its other 
conclusions. The Commission also sought comment on whether a new 
numbering policy board should be established to assist regulators.
    3. The Commission invited comment on the international implications 
of its various proposals to select, organize, and fund a replacement 
for the current Plan administrator. For example, in the event there are 
administrative costs of the Plan which are not covered by Commission-
imposed fees, the Commission proposed to establish with other World 
Zone 1 regulators a system of charges payable directly to the new Plan 
administrator by those who directly benefit from the operation of the 
Plan subject to appropriate oversight. The Commission also sought 
comment on the specific problems presented by the absence of uniform 
nationwide dialing arrangements and on the specific steps the 
Commission could take to remedy those problems.
    4. Phase Two. In Phase Two, the Commission explained that Carrier 
Identification Codes (CICs) are numeric codes widely used within the 
telephone industry to provide local exchange access to long distance 
carriers, to route traffic, identify types of service, bill access 
purchasers, and for other purposes. In view of anticipated demand, the 
Commission indicated that the stock of three-digit Feature Group D 
(FGD) CICs available for assignment will likely be exhausted within a 
year or so. To increase the number of such codes, the Commission noted 
that a plan was developed by the industry to expand the format of these 
codes from three digits to four digits and also expand the format of 
carrier access codes (CACs) from five digits (10XXX) to seven digits 
(101XXXX). In light of various objections, the Commission's earlier 
inquiry sought comment on whether these planned changes should be 
reconsidered.
    5. In the Notice, the Commission tentatively concluded that FGD 
CICs should be expanded to a four-digit format and sought comment on 
that tentative conclusion. However, to facilitate the changeover to the 
new codes, the Commission also proposed a transition period of six 
years during which subscribers could use both the current three-digit 
and the new four-digit CICs. In addition, the Commission sought comment 
on whether it should require local exchange carriers to cease screening 
and completing interstate, intraLATA ``1+'' Message Toll Service (MTS) 
calls and instead deliver those calls to the carrier preselected by the 
end user.

Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

    6. The Commission certified that the Regulatory Flexibility Act of 
1980 does not apply to this rulemaking proceeding because, if the 
proposed rule amendments are promulgated, there will not be a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small business 
entities, as defined by Section 601(3) of the Regulatory Flexibility 
Act. While the rules proposed by the Commission would apply to 
telecommunications corporations of all sizes that are now assigned 
telephone numbers or that may in the future seek such assignments, the 
impact on small business entities served by these corporations and on 
small telecommunications companies is not likely to be significant. 
Similarly, the Commission's proposed rules on interstate, intraLATA 
toll traffic are not expected to have a significant impact on small 
telecommunications companies or other small business entities. The 
Commission Secretary was directed to send a copy of the Notice, 
including the certification, to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the 
Small Business Administration in accordance with paragraph 603(a) of 
the Regulatory Flexibility Act, Public Law No. 96-354, 94 Stat. 1164, 5 
U.S.C. 601, et seq. (1981).

Comments

    7. Pursuant to applicable procedures set forth in Sections 1.415 
and 1.419 of the Commission's Rules, 47 CFR 1.415 and 1.419, interested 
parties may file comments on or before June 7, 1994, and reply comments 
on or before June 30, 1994. To file formally in this proceeding, you 
must file an original and four copies of all comments, reply comments, 
and supporting comments. If you want each Commissioner to receive a 
personal copy of your comments, you should file an original and nine 
copies. You should send comments and reply comments to Office of the 
Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, Washington, DC 20554. 
Comments and reply comments will be available for public inspection 
during regular business hours in the FCC Reference Center (Room 239) of 
the Federal Communications Commission, 1919 M Street, NW., Washington, 
DC 20554.

Ex Parte Analysis

    8. This is a non-restricted notice and comment rulemaking 
proceeding. Ex parte presentations are permitted, except during the 
Sunshine Agenda period, provided they are disclosed as provided in 
Commission rules. See generally, 47 CFR 1.1202, 1.1203, and 1.1206(a).

Ordering Clause

    9. Accordingly, it is ordered, pursuant to sections 1, 4(i), 201-
205, and 403 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 
151, 154(i), 201-205, and 403, that Notice is hereby given of the 
proposed regulatory actions described above and comment is sought on 
these proposals.

List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 1

    Communications common carriers, Telecommunications.

Federal Communications Commission.
William F. Caton,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 94-11168 Filed 5-9-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-M