[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 145 (Friday, July 28, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 38737-38738]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-18453]



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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 1

[CC Docket No. 92-237; FCC 95-283]


Administration of the North American Numbering Plan

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Policy statement.

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SUMMARY: On July 13, 1995, the Commission adopted a Report and Order 
(Order) regarding administration of the North American Numbering Plan. 
This document gives notice of the Order which adopted a model for 
administration of telephone number resources by establishing the North 
American Numbering Council and requiring a neutral North American 
Numbering Plan Administrator. This action fosters competition and new 
services in the telecommunications marketplace by ensuring pro-
competitive and impartial administration of crucial numbering 
resources.

EFFECTIVE DATE: August 28, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mike Specht (Senior Engineer) 202-634-1816, Scott A. Shefferman 
(Attorney) 202-634-1952 or Elizabeth Nightingale (Attorney) 202-634-
1832, Domestic Facilities Division, Common Carrier Bureau.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This summarizes the Commission's Report and 
Order in the matter of Administration of the North American Numbering 
Plan, (CC Docket 92-237, adopted July 13, 1995, and released July 13, 
1995). The file is available for inspection and copying during the 
weekday hours of 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Commission's Reference 
Center, room 239, 1919 M St., NW., Washington, DC, or copies may be 
purchased from the Commission's duplicating contractor, ITS, Inc. 2100 
M St., NW., Suite 140, Washington, DC 20037, phone 202-857-3800.

Analysis of Proceeding

    On September 26, 1991, the National Association of Regulatory 
Utility Commissioners petitioned the Commission to begin a broad 
inquiry into administration of the North American Numbering Plan 
(NANP). The NANP is the basic numbering scheme that permits 
interoperable telecommunications service within the United States, 
Canada, Bermuda and most of the Caribbean. Administration of the NANP 
is currently performed by Bell Communications Research, Inc. 
(Bellcore), a research company owned by the seven regional Bell 
Operating Companies. On October 29, 1992, the Commission released a 
Notice of Inquiry (NOI), summarized at 57 FR 53462 (Nov. 10, 1992), to 
explore several long range issues related to administration of the 
NANP. The NOI consisted of two phases: Phase One focused on who should 
administer the NANP and how the administration might be improved; and 
Phase Two focused on Carrier Identification Codes (CIC).
    On August 19, 1993, Bellcore advised the Commission that it wished 
to relinquish its role as NANP Administrator. On March 30, 1994, the 
Commission adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), summarized 
at 59 FR 24103 (May 10, 1994), tentatively concluding that: (1) The 
Commission should select a single NANP Administrator that is a non-
government entity not closely affiliated with any particular segment of 
the telecommunications industry; (2) the Commission should oversee the 
NANP Administrator; (3) the NANP Administrator should take over 
Bellcore's current functions, as well as administer central office (CO) 
codes (the second three digits in a standard ten-digit telephone 
number); (4) the transition to a new NANP structure should begin as 
soon as the new Administrator is identified, and should extend to a 
date at least six months after the beginning of the use of 
interchangeable Numbering Plan Area codes (``NPAs'' or ``area codes'') 
in January 1995; and (5) the Commission should impose fees to recover 
costs of regulating numbering resources. Additionally, the NPRM sought 
comment on whether the Commission should establish a policy board to 
assist regulators in developing and coordinating numbering policy under 
the NANP. The NPRM also sought comment on whether the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act would apply to such a board.
    The Order adopted July 13, 1995, is guided by several principles: 
(1) To maintain and foster an integrated approach to number 
administration throughout North America; (2) to provide a structure for 
number administration that is impartial and pro-competitive; (3) to 
correct the current deficiencies of the number administration 
structure, while maintaining the positive aspects of the current 
structure; and (4) to enhance Commission control and awareness of 
numbering issues during the transition to a competitive 
telecommunications industry.

[[Page 38738]]

    The Order states that the Commission will set broad numbering 
policy objectives and be the final arbiter of all disputes involving 
United States numbering issues. The Order also establishes a North 
American Numbering Council (NANC), which will have broad membership and 
be organized under the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee 
Act, 5 U.S.C., App. (1988), and will advise the Commission, guide the 
NANP Administrator, apply Commission policy to resolve issues arising 
in the administration of the NANP, and conduct initial dispute 
resolution of all issues. The NANP Administrator will process number 
resource applications and maintain administrative numbering databases. 
Details and additional activities of the NANP Administrator are to be 
determined by the NANC. The Commission will oversee the NANC, with 
participation from other NANP member countries. The NANC will select 
the NANP Administrator.
    The Order concludes that the NANP Administrator should be a single, 
non-government entity that is not closely identified with any 
particular industry segment. The new NANP Administrator should take 
over the NANP administration functions currently performed by Bellcore. 
The functions associated with CO code administration, currently 
performed by the dominant local exchange carrier in each area code, 
will be centralized and performed by the new NANP Administrator. The 
Order states that the Commission can and should impose fees to recover 
its costs of regulating numbering resources and determines that the 
costs of the new NANP Administrator should be recovered by charging 
each communications provider a fee based on its gross revenue. Finally, 
the Order establishes a transition schedule to achieve the new 
structure for overall number administration.
    The Order does not address various other issues raised in the NOI 
and the NPRM . These issues were considered unrelated to the structure 
for overall number administration.

Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

    Pursuant to the Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980, 5 U.S.C. 601, 
et seq., the Commission's final analysis in this Order is as follows:

I. Need and Purpose of This Action

    This Report and Order addresses comments filed in response to the 
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) concerning administration of the 
North American Numbering Plan. The decisions and policies are necessary 
to ensure an efficient administration of numbering resources.
    After evaluating the comments and reply comments in this 
proceeding, and further examination of the impact of any rule changes 
on small entities, the Commission finds that the decisions and policies 
established in this proceeding will not have 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 
decisions and policies adopted in this proceeding 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 will not be significant.

II. Summary of Issue Raised by the Public Comments in Response to 
the Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

    No comments were submitted in direct response to the Initial 
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis.

III. Significant Alternatives Considered

    The NPRM requested comments on several issues. The Commission has 
considered all comments and has determined that its numbering policies 
are best served by the policies adopted herein.

Ordering Clauses

    1. Accordingly, It is Ordered, that pursuant to authority contained 
in Sections 1, 4(i), 4(j), 7, 201-205 and 403 of the Communications Act 
of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 151, 154(i), 154(j), 157, 201-205, and 
403, that the decisions and policies adopted herein shall be effective 
on August 28, 1995.

List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 1

    Communications common carriers, Telecommunications.

Federal Communications Commission.
William F. Caton,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 95-18453 Filed 7-27-95; 8:45 am]
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