[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 75 (Friday, April 18, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 19056-19057]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-10083]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Parts 52 and 64
[CC Docket No. 92-237; FCC 97-125]
Administration of the North American Numbering Plan, Carrier
Identification Codes (CICs)
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: On April 11, 1997, the Commission released a Second Report and
Order setting January 1, 1998, as the end for the transition, or
permissive dialing period, for the expansion from three digit to four
digit Feature Group D carrier identification codes (CICs), and
modifying the CIC conservation plan to allow for up to two CICs per
entity. The Second Report and Order is intended to alert the industry
and the general public that after January 1, 1998, only four digit
CICs, and the corresponding seven digit carrier identification codes
(CACs), will be recognized.
DATES: Effective May 19, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, 1919 M Street, N.W.,
Washington, DC 20554.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth Nightingale, Attorney,
[[Page 19057]]
Network Services Division, Common Carrier Bureau, (202) 418-2352.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This summarizes the Commission's Second
Report and Order in the matter of Administration of the North American
Numbering Plan, Carrier Identification Codes (CICs), FCC 97-125,
adopted April 7, 1997, and released April 11, 1997. 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 Second Report and Order, the Commission affirms the
tentative conclusion in the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (59 FR 24103,
May 10, 1994) that the Feature Group D CIC expansion plan developed by
the industry is reasonable, and determines that the transition for the
conversion from three digit to four digit Feature Group D CICs will end
on January 1, 1998. The Commission finds that, because of the changing
circumstances since the record in this docket closed in 1994, the
transition should end as soon as practicable, and shortening the
originally proposed six-year transition to a two-year and nine-month
transition will serve the overall pro-competitive purposes of the Act
(by making more CICs available), as well as the specific purposes of
Sections 251(e) (by ensuring that numbers are available on an equitable
basis) and 251(b)(3) (by lessening hardships, consistent with the duty
imposed on all LECs to provide nondiscriminatory access to telephone
numbers, caused by the conservation plan's limiting access to CICs). To
lessen any disadvantage new entrants may experience during the
transition in particular, the Commission also modifies the ongoing CIC
conservation plan to allow each entity to have two CIC assignments. The
Commission determines that shortening the originally proposed six-year
period is reasonable because the industry has been aware for some time
that equipment changes (both hardware and software) to accommodate
exclusive use of four digit CICs would be necessary. The Commission
concludes that ending the transition on January 1, 1998, provides a
reasonable period for carriers and equipment owners to reprogram their
switch software or upgrade their switch hardware and for callers to
become accustomed to the change from five to seven digit CACs. The
Commission also requires the North American Numbering Plan (NANP)
administrator, as the entity assigning CICs, to notify all CIC
assignees of the decision in the Second Report and Order. Finally, the
Commission states its intention to initiate further proceedings in this
docket in which it will analyze further all issues related to CIC use
and assignment.
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 Second Report and
Order is hereby adopted.
It is further ordered, that Bellcore, as the NANP administrator
must notify all CIC assignees of the Commission's decision in this
Second Report and Order, consistent with the terms described herein.
It is further ordered, that Bellcore, as the NANP administrator
must assign CICs in conformity with the Commission's modification to
the conservation plan in this Second Report and Order.
It is further ordered, that the petition for rulemaking filed by
VarTec Telecom, Inc. is hereby dismissed in part and granted in part to
the extent contained herein.
It is further ordered, that the Commission directs the Common
Carrier Bureau to take further actions modifying the conservation plan
in response to changes in CIC consumption under its delegated
authority.
It is further ordered, that this Second Report and Order is
effective upon 30 days after publication in the Federal Register.
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. 97-10083 Filed 4-17-97; 8:45 am]
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