[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 38 (Wednesday, February 26, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8633-8634]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-4787]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Parts 52 and 64

[CC Docket No. 92-105; FCC 97-51]


The Use of N11 Codes and Other Abbreviated Dialing Arrangements

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: On February 19, 1997, the Commission released a First Report 
and Order adopting various measures related to N11 codes. The First 
Report and Order is intended both to direct national assignment of 
certain N11 codes and to allow current allocation of other N11 codes to 
remain in place.

DATE Effective: March 28, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth Nightingale, Attorney, 
Network Services Division, Common Carrier Bureau, (202) 418-2352.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This summarizes the Commission's First 
Report and Order in the matter of The Use of N11 Codes and Other 
Abbreviated Dialing Arrangements, FCC 97-51, adopted February 18, 1997, 
and released February 19, 1997. The Commission concurrently released a 
Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the same docket. 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., N.W., Washington D.C., or copies may be purchased from the 
Commission's duplicating contractor, ITS, Inc. 2100 M St., N.W., Suite 
140, Washington, D.C. 20037, phone (202) 857-3800.

Analysis of Proceeding

    In the First Report and Order, the Commission allows the incumbent 
LECs, in addition to the states and Bell Communications Research 
(Bellcore), to continue to perform the N11 code administration 
functions that they performed at the time of enactment of the 1996 Act 
amendments to the 1934 Act, until further Commission action. The 
Commission also adopts several other important measures regarding 
abbreviated dialing arrangements. Specifically, the Commission responds 
to a request for an N11 code that could be dialed to reach non-
emergency police services by assigning 311 on a nationwide basis for 
this purpose. Wherever 311 is currently in use for other purposes, 
however, the Commission would allow that use to continue until the 
local government in that area was prepared to activate a non-emergency 
311 service. In the First Report and Order the Commission also 
concludes that, as the incumbent LECs can do currently, all providers 
of telephone exchange service must be able to have their customers call 
611 and 811 to reach their repair and business service offices. The 
Commission also concludes that a LEC may not itself offer enhanced 
services using a 411 code, or any other N11 code, unless that LEC 
offers access to the code on a reasonable, nondiscriminatory basis to 
competing enhanced service providers in the local service area for 
which it is using the code to facilitate distribution of their enhanced 
services. Finally, the Commission responds to a request for an N11 code 
that could be used throughout the nation to reach telecommunications 
relay services by directing Bellcore to assign 711 on a nationwide 
basis for this use. The Commission declines, however, to: (1) mandate 
that N11 numbers be made available for access to information services; 
(2) mandate that an N11 code be designated for access to government 
agencies; or (3) disturb the current allocation of various N11 codes 
for access to emergency services, directory assistance, and LEC repair 
and business offices.

Ordering Clauses

    Accordingly, it is ordered, pursuant to Sections 1, 4(i), 201-205 
and 251(e)(1) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 
Secs. 151, 154(i), 201-205, and 251(e)(1), that the First Report and 
Order is hereby Adopted.
    It is further ordered, that Bellcore, as the NANP administrator, 
shall assign 711 as a national code for TRS use as of the effective 
date of this First Report and Order, as discussed in this First Report 
and Order.
    It is further ordered, that Bellcore, as the NANP administrator, 
shall assign 311 as a national code for access to non-emergency police 
and other government services as of the effective date of this First 
Report and Order, as discussed in this First Report and Order.
    It is further ordered, that when a provider of telecommunications 
services receives a request from an entity to use 311 for access to 
non-emergency police and other government services in a particular 
jurisdiction, it must ensure that, within six months of the request: 
(1) entities that were assigned 311 at the local level prior to the 
effective date of this First Report and Order relinquish non-compliant 
uses; and (2) it takes any steps necessary (for example reprogramming 
switch software) to complete 311 calls from its subscribers to a 
requesting 311 entity in its service area.
    It is further ordered, that (1) all providers of telephone exchange

[[Page 8634]]

service, both incumbents and new market entrants, whether facilities or 
non facilities-based providers of telephone exchange service, should be 
enabled to use the 611 and 811 codes for repair services and business 
office uses as the incumbent LECs do now; and (2) by dialing these N11 
numbers, customers should be able to reach their own carriers' repair 
or business services.
    It is further ordered, that a LEC may not itself offer enhanced 
services using a 411 code, or any other N11 code, unless that LEC 
offers access to the code on a reasonable, nondiscriminatory basis to 
competing enhanced service providers in the local service area for 
which it is using the code to facilitate distribution of their enhanced 
services.
    It is further ordered, that the North American Numbering Council 
will explore how rapidly abbreviated dialing arrangements could be 
deployed and report back to the Commission on this issue.
    It is further ordered that GSA's request for a national N11 
assignment is denied and that NASTD's request for a national assignment 
is granted in part as discussed in this First Report and Order, and 
otherwise denied.

List of Subjects

47 CFR Part 52

    Local exchange carrier, Numbering, Telecommunications.

47 CFR Part 64

    Communications common carriers, Telephone.

Federal Communications Commission.
William F. Caton,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 97-4787 Filed 2-25-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P