[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 204 (Wednesday, October 22, 1997)] [Proposed Rules] [Pages 54817-54819] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 97-27998] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 47 CFR Parts 52 and 64 [CC Docket No. 92-237; FCC 97-364] Administration of the North American Numbering Plan, Carrier Identification Codes (CICs) AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission. ACTION: Proposed rule. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: On October 9, 1997, the Commission released a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) addressing carrier identification codes (CICs). The FNPRM is intended to obtain comment on issues related to CIC use and assignment. This FNPRM contains proposed information collections subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA). It has been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review under the PRA. OMB, the general public, and other Federal agencies are invited to comment on the proposed information collections contained in this proceeding. The Commission concurrently released a Order in the same docket. DATES: Comments must be filed on or before November 24, 1997, and reply comments must be filed on or before December 22, 1997. Written comments by the public on the proposed information collections are due on November 24, 1997. Written comments must be submitted by OMB on the proposed information collections on or before December 22, 1997. ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, Secretary, Room 222, 1919 M Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20554. In addition to filing comments with the Secretary, a copy of any comments on the proposed information collections contained herein should be submitted to Judy Boley, Federal Communications Commission, Room 234, 1919 M Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20554, or via the Internet to [email protected], and to Timothy Fain, OMB Desk Officer, 10236 NEOB, 725--17th Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20503 or via the Internet to [email protected]. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth Nightingale, Attorney, Network Services Division, Common Carrier Bureau, (202) 418-2352. For additional information concerning the information collections contained in this FNPRM contact Judy Boley at 202-418-0214, or via the Internet at [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This summarizes the Commission's Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the matter of Administration of the North American Numbering Plan, Carrier Identification Codes (CICs), CC Docket 92-237, adopted October 8, 1997, and released October 9, 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., 1231 20th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036, phone (202) 857-3800. Paperwork Reduction Act This FNPRM contains a proposed information collection. The Commission, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, invites the general public and the OMB to comment on the information collections contained in this FNPRM, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Public and agency comments are due at the same time as other comments on this FNPRM; OMB notification of action is due 60 days from date of publication of this FNPRM in the Federal Register. Comments should address: (a) whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimates; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Title: Administration of the North American Numbering Plan, Carrier Identification Codes (CICs), CC Docket 92-237 (Semi-Annual Access and Usage Reporting Requirements), adopted October 8, 1997, and released October 9, 1997. Form No.: N/A. Type of Review: New collection. Respondents: Business or other for-profit. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ No. of Est. time Total annual Title respondents per response burden ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1. Incumbent LEC and CIC Assignees Semi-Annual Access and Usage Reporting.......... 2600 4x2 20,800 2. NANP Administrator Semi- Annual Access and Usage Reporting.................... 1 16x2 32 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Total Annual Burden: 20,832 hours. Frequency of Response: Semi-annual. Estimated costs per respondent: $0. Needs and Uses: Proposal 1: that semi-annual access and usage reporting requirements for Feature Group D CICs be imposed on all incumbent local exchange carriers (LECs) and CIC assignees and that this information be [[Page 54818]] filed with the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) administrator. Proposal 2: that the NANP administrator file, on a semi-annual basis, a report with the Commission based on the information received from the incumbent LECs and CIC assignees in their semi-annual reports, and that the NANP administrator include any information obtained as a result of its monitoring CIC usage. The proposed collection of information will significantly aid the industry's and this Commission's joint effort to conserve CICs. Initial Regulatory Flexibility Act Analysis The Commission has prepared an Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) of the expected economic impact on small entities by the policies and proposals in this FNPRM. The Commission solicited written public comments on the IRFA, which must be filed by the deadlines for the submission of comments in this proceeding. Need for and Objectives of Proposed Rules The FNPRM continues the Commission's analysis of issues related to carrier identification code (CIC) use and assignment. The FNPRM seeks comment on the use and application of Feature Group D CICs, the CICs that are used to provide equal access. The Commission's actions here are part of an effort to ensure fair and efficient overall administration of numbering resources. Legal Basis Authority for actions proposed in this FNPRM may be found in: Sections 1, 4(i) and (j), 201-205, 218 and 251(e)(1) of the Communications Act as amended, 47 U.S.C. Sections 151, 154(i), 154(j), 201-205, 218 and 251(e)(1). Description and Estimate of the Number of Small Entities to Which the Proposed Rules Will Apply The proposals made by the Commission in this FNPRM may apply to a variety of entities listed below. Local Exchange Carriers We estimate that there are fewer than 1,347 small incumbent LECs that may be affected by the proposals in this FNPRM. Interexchange Carriers We estimate that there are fewer than 130 small entity IXCs and 30 ``other'' toll carriers that may be affected by the proposals in this FNPRM. Wireless Service Providers The 1992 Census of Transportation, Communications, and Utilities, conducted by the Bureau of the Census, shows that only 12 radiotelephone firms out of a total of 1,176 such firms that operated during 1992 had 1,000 or more employees.1 Therefore, even if all 12 of these large firms were radiotelephone companies, all of the remainder were small businesses under the SBA's definition. We assume that all of the current radiotelephone licensees are small entities, as that term is defined by the SBA. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ U.S. Bureau of the Census, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1992 Census of Transportation, Communications, and Utilities, UC92-S-1, Subject Series, Establishment and Firm Size, Table 5, Employment Size of Firms: 1992, SIC 4812 (issued May 1995). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cellular and Mobile Radio Telephone Service We estimate that there are fewer than 792 small entity Cellular Service Carriers and fewer than 138 small entity Mobile Service Carriers that might be affected by the proposals in this FNPRM. We assume that all of the current rural cellular and mobile licensees are small businesses. Personal Communications Service We conclude that the number of small broadband PCS licensees will include the 90 winning C Block bidders and the 93 qualifying bidders in the D, E, and F blocks, for a total of 183 small PCS providers as defined by the SBA 2 and the Commission's auction rules. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \2\ See para. 9, supra. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Paging and Radiotelephone Service, and Private Land Mobile Radio Services, Paging Operations We believe that it is possible that a significant number of the estimated 48,393 licensees or potential licensees who could take the opportunity to partition or disaggregate a license or who could obtain a license through partitioning or disaggregation will be a small business. Competitive Access Providers We estimate that there are fewer than 57 small entity CAPS that may be affected by the proposals in this FNPRM. Operator Service Providers We estimate that there are fewer than 25 small entity operator service providers that may be affected by the proposals in this FNPRM. Pay Telephone Operators We estimate that there are fewer than 271 pay telephone operators that may be affected by the proposals in this FNPRM. Resellers We estimate that there are fewer than 260 small entity resellers that may be affected by the proposals in this FNPRM. Telecommunications Equipment Manufacturers We estimate that there are fewer than 436 small manufacturers of wireline telecommunications equipment. Wireless Telecommunications Equipment Manufacturers We estimate that there are fewer than 778 small manufacturers of wireless telecommunications equipment. Fire and Burglar Equipment Manufacturers We estimate that there are fewer than 469 small manufacturers of alarm equipment that may be affected by the proposals in this FNPRM. Alarm Service Providers We tentatively conclude that there are approximately 2,190 small security system service providers that may be affected by the proposals in this FNPRM. Description of Projected Reporting, Recordkeeping and Other Compliance Requirements The FNPRM proposes that semi-annual access and usage reporting requirements for Feature Group D CICs be imposed on all incumbent LECs and CIC assignees and that this information be filed with the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) administrator. The FNPRM also proposes that the NANP administrator file, on a semi-annual basis, a report with the Commission based on the information received from the incumbent LECs and CIC assignees in their semi-annual reports, and that the NANP administrator include any information obtained as a result of its monitoring CIC usage. The FNPRM tentatively concludes that the proposed reporting requirements will: (1) impose minimum burdens on businesses, including small businesses; and (2) ensure CIC availability to current and new small business competitors, thereby serving the goals of section 257 of the Act, as amended, and offsetting any burdens of the reporting requirements. The FNPRM seeks comment on this tentative conclusion. The IRFA seeks further [[Page 54819]] comment on whether small entities will have additional burdens imposed as a result of these proposed requirements. We believe that monitoring and reporting on CIC usage will significantly aid the industry's and this Commission's joint effort to conserve CICs. Steps Taken to Minimize Economic Impact on Small Entities and Significant Alternatives Considered To gather relevant information from all interested parties, including small business entities, about allocation of this scarce numbering resource, we seek comment on a wide array of issues and ask that commenters suggest alternatives to our proposals. The IRFA tentatively concludes that our proposals in the FNPRM would impose minimum burdens on small entities. The IRFA seeks comment on these proposals and the impact they may have on small entities. Federal Rules That May Duplicate, Overlap, or Conflict With the Proposed Rules None. Analysis of Proceeding The FNPRM asks for comment on the use and application of Feature Group D CICs, the CICs that are used to provide equal access. The FNPRM also seeks comment on the definition of ``entity'' used to determine who may receive a CIC and on CIC conservation issues, such as: (1) The limit on CIC assignments per entity; (2) the limit on assignable four- digit CICs; (3) CIC reclamation; and (4) usage reporting requirements. For some of these issues, the FNPRM proposes rules. Many of these issues are already addressed in the CIC Assignment Guidelines, developed by the industry for the NANP administrator. The intention of the FNPRM is not to propose modifications to the existing guidelines, but rather to propose new Commission rules to govern CIC use and assignment. The Commission's proposals are intended to ensure fair and efficient overall administration of numbering resources; to foster an integrated approach to numbering administration across NANP member countries; and to enable the Commission and regulatory bodies of other nations to ensure that domestic numbering administration is effective through reliance upon the expertise and innovative efforts of industry. Ordering Clauses Accordingly, it is ordered, pursuant to Sections 1, 4(i) and (j), 201-205, 218 and 251(e)(1) of the Communications Act as amended, 47 U.S.C. Sections 151, 154(i), 154(j), 201-205, 218 and 251(e)(1), that the Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking is hereby adopted. It is further ordered that the Commission's Office of Managing Director shall send a copy of the Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, including the Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis, to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration. List of Subjects 47 CFR Part 52 Local exchange carrier, Numbering, Telecommunications. 47 CFR Part 64 Communications common carriers, Telephone. Federal Communications Commission. LaVera F. Marshall, Acting Secretary. [FR Doc. 97-27998 Filed 10-21-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6712-01-P