[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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