[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 229 (Friday, November 28, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 63301-63302]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-31248]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Parts 52 and 64

[CC Docket No. 92-237; DA 97-2439]


Administration of the North American Numbering Plan, Carrier 
Identification Codes (CICs)

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: On November 21, 1997, the Network Services Division of the 
Commission's Common Carrier Bureau, released an Order extending the 
deadline for filing comments to the Further Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking in this docket addressing carrier identification code use 
and assignment [62 FR 54817 (10/22/97)]. The Order is intended to grant 
the extension request filed by the North American Numbering Council 
(NANC) and to make the public aware of the extensions of the filing 
deadlines.

DATES: Comments must be filed on or before March 6, 1998, and reply 
comments must be filed on or before April 3, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, Secretary, Room 222, 1919 
M Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20554.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Administration of the North American 
Numbering Plan, Carrier Identification Codes (CICs); Order [CC Docket 
No. 92-237; DA 97-2439]

[Adopted: November 20, 1997; Released: November 21, 1997]

    1. On October 9, 1997, the Commission released a Further Notice of 
Proposed Rulemaking and Order 1 in this docket, addressing 
issues related to Feature Group D carrier identification code (CIC) use 
and assignment.2 In the FNPRM, the Commission sought comment 
on, for example, the use and application of Feature Group D CICs, on 
the definition of ``entity'' used to determine who may receive a CIC, 
and on CIC conservation issues. In the Order, the Commission directed 
the North American Numbering Council (NANC) to present to the 
Commission, no later than December 15, 1997, the NANC's recommendations 
on the tentative conclusions and proposals in the FNPRM, including any 
alternatives to them. The Commission stated that NANC's recommendations 
(including any recommended rules or recommended resolutions of 
ambiguities or policy disputes) should address, for example, how to 
define ``entity'' and whether CIC conservation measures, such as a 
limit on CIC assignments per entity, a limit on the total number of 
four-digit CICs available for assignment, and mandatory CIC reclamation 
procedures, are needed to meet the Commission's numbering policy goals.
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    \1\ Administration of the North American Numbering Plan, Carrier 
Identification Codes (CICs), Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 
and Order, CC Docket No. 92-237, FCC 97-364 (released October 9, 
1997) (62 FR 54817 (10/22/97) (FNPRM and Order).
    \2\ CICs are numeric codes that enable local exchange carriers 
(LECs) providing interstate interexchange access services to 
identify the interstate interexchange carrier (IXC) that the 
originating caller wishes to use to transmit its interstate call. 
LECs use the CICs to route traffic to the proper IXC and to bill for 
the interstate access service provided. CICs facilitate competition 
by enabling callers to use the services of telecommunications 
service providers either by presubscription or by dialing CAC, which 
incorporates that carrier's unique Feature Group D CIC.
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    2. In a letter dated November 19, 1997, the North American 
Numbering Council (NANC), through its Chairman, Alan C. Hasselwander, 
requested extension of the deadlines set in the FNPRM and Order. 
Specifically, NANC asks that the deadline by which it must present 
recommendations to the Commission, as required by the Order, be 
extended from December 15, 1997, to February 19, 1998 (the day 
following NANC's February meeting). In addition, NANC requested that 
the time by which parties must file comments and reply comments in 
response to the FNPRM be extended from November 24, 1997, and December 
22, 1997, respectively, to a period following the date for NANC's 
submission.
    3. NANC states that at its November 18, 1997 meeting, the members 
unanimously agreed that such a delay is required. NANC also asserts 
that the delay ``will allow NANC to assemble a diverse group of 
industry representatives to consider the questions raised in the Order 
and work diligently to find common ground.'' In support of its request 
that the time by which parties must file comments in response to the 
FNPRM be extended until after the deadline for NANC's submission, NANC 
states that ``industry may achieve a more uniform position if NANC 
attempts to achieve consensus before interested parties have publicly 
stated their positions.''
    4. The Commission does not routinely grant extensions of 
time.3 It is important, however, that the record be as 
complete as possible. A recommendation from NANC that reflects 
consensus based on a diverse group of industry views is desirable. 
Granting NANC's additional time to submit its recommendation to the 
Commission increases the likelihood that the recommendation will be 
comprehensive. Further, if delaying the pleading cycle until after NANC 
reports will allow NANC to achieve a more uniform view from a cross-
section of the industry, because interested parties would not have 
publicly stated their positions in advance of NANC's opportunity to 
address them, the record in this proceeding will benefit. For these 
reasons, we grant NANC's request and, accordingly, we: (1) extend the 
period of time by which NANC must provide its recommendations to the 
Commission until February 19, 1998; and (2) extend the period of time 
by which parties must file comments and reply comments on the issues 
raised in the FNPRM until March 6, 1998, and April 3, 1998, 
respectively. We emphasize that the comments and reply comments on the 
FNPRM should address the proposals and tentative conclusions raised by 
the Commission in the FNPRM, and should not be limited to NANC's 
recommendations.
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    \3\ See 47 CFR 1.45.
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    5. Accordingly, it is ordered, pursuant to Section 1.46 of the 
Commission's Rules, 47 CFR Sec. 1.46, that the North American Numbering 
Council's request to extend the deadline by which it must present 
recommendations to the Commission in response to the Order issued in 
this proceeding on October 9, 1997, Is granted, by extending the 
deadline until February 19, 1998.
    6. It is further ordered, pursuant to Section 1.46 of the 
Commission's Rules, 47 CFR 1.46, that the North American

[[Page 63302]]

Numbering Council's request to extend the deadlines by which parties 
must file comments and reply comments in response to the Further Notice 
of Proposed Rulemaking issued in this proceeding on October 9, 1997, IS 
GRANTED, by extending the deadline for filing comments until March 6, 
1998, and by extending the deadline for filing reply comments until 
April 3, 1998.

Federal Communications Commission.
Geraldine A. Matise,
Chief, Network Services Division Common Carrier Bureau.
[FR Doc. 97-31248 Filed 11-26-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P