Requests for Additional Authority To Implement Telecommunications Numbering Conservation Measures

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[CC Docket No. 96-98; DA 99-1198]

Requests for Additional Authority To Implement Telecommunications

Numbering Conservation Measures

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: On June 22, 1999, the Commission released a public notice

requesting public comment on several petitions from state utility

commissions requesting additional authority to implement measures

related to conservation of telecommunications numbering resources. The

intended effect of this action is to make the public aware of, and to

seek public comment on, these requests.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Al McCloud at (202) 418-2320 or

[email protected]. The address is: Network Services Division, Common

Carrier Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, The Portals, 445

Twelfth Street, S.W., Suite 6-A320, Washington, D.C. 20554. The fax

number is: (202) 418-2345. The TTY number is: (202) 418-0484.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Released: June 22, 1999.

On September 28, 1998, the Federal Communications Commission

(``Commission'') released an order in the matter of a Petition for

Declaratory Ruling and Request for Expedited Action on the July 15,

1997 Order of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission Regarding Area

Codes 412, 610, 215, and 717, and Implementation of the Local

Competition Provisions of the Telecommunications Act of 1996,

Memorandum Opinion and Order and Order on Reconsideration, FCC 98-224,

CC Docket No. 96-98, 63 FR 63613, NSD File No. L-97-42 (rel. September

28, 1998) (``Pennsylvania Numbering Order''). The Pennsylvania

Numbering Order delegated additional authority to state public utility

commissions to order NXX code rationing, under certain circumstances,

in jeopardy situations and encouraged state commissions to seek further

limited delegations of authority to implement other innovative number

conservation methods.

Several state utility commissions have filed requests for

additional delegations of authority to implement number conservation

methods in their states. See Common Carrier Bureau Seeks Comment on a

Petition of the California Public Utilities Commission and the People

of the State of California for an Additional Delegation of Authority to

Conduct NXX Code Rationing, Public Notice, NSD File No. L-98-136, DA

99-108 (rel. Jan. 6, 1999); Common Carrier Bureau Seeks Comment on

Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Energy Request for

Additional Authority to Implement Various Area Code Conservation

Measures in the 508, 617, 781, and 978 Area Codes, Public Notice, NSD

File No. L-99-19, DA 99-461 (rel. Mar. 5, 1999); Common Carrier Bureau

Seeks Comment on New York Department of Public Service Petition for

Additional Authority to Implement Number Conservation Measures, Public

Notice, NSD File No. L-99-21, DA 99-462 (rel. Mar. 5, 1999); Common

Carrier Bureau Seeks Comment on the Maine Public Utilities Commission's

Petition for Additional Authority to Implement Number Conservation

Measures, Public

[[Page 34254]]

Notice, NSD File No. L-99-27, DA 99-638 (rel. Apr. 1, 1999); Common

Carrier Bureau Seeks Comment on the Florida Public Service Commission's

Petition for Authority to Implement Number Conservation Measures,

Public Notice, NSD File No. 99-33, DA 99-725 (rel. Apr. 15, 1999);

Common Carrier Bureau Seeks Comment on a Petition of the California

Public Utilities Commission and the People of the State of California

for a Delegation of Additional Authority Pertaining to Area Code Relief

and to NXX Code Conservation Measures, Public Notice, NSD File No. L-

98-928, DA 99-108 (rel. May 14, 1999).

Among other things, the state commissions have sought authority to

implement number pooling trials in their states (thousands-block

pooling, individual telephone number pooling, and unassigned number

porting); to adopt number-assignment standards (including establishing

fill rates as a criterion for the allocation of NXX codes, assigning

numbers sequentially, certifying the readiness of carriers' facilities

prior to assigning NXX codes, and engaging in audits to assure carriers

are abiding by these standards as well as industry number-assignment

guidelines); to maintain rationing of NXX codes for a period of six

months following NPA relief; to hear and address claims of carriers

seeking numbering resources outside of NXX rationing plans; to order

the return of unused or reserved NXX codes to the NANPA; to implement

extended local calling areas, inconsistent rate centers, and NXX code

sharing; and to expand the deployment of permanent local number

portability. The comment periods for all of the proceedings referenced

above have closed, except for the second petition from the California

Commission, for which the comment period closes on June 28, 1999.

Many of the delegations of authority sought by the state

commissions relate to issues under consideration in the Numbering

Resource Optimization Notice. Numbering Resource Optimization, Notice

of Proposed Rulemaking, CC Docket No. 99-200, FCC 99-122 (rel. June 2,

1999), 64 FR 32471. Because the state utility commissions which have

petitioned us face immediate concerns regarding the administration of

telecommunication numbering resources in their states, we find it to be

in the public interest to address these petitions as expeditiously as

possible, prior to completing the rulemaking proceeding.

We hereby seek comment on the issues raised in the state utility

commissions' petitions for delegated authority to implement various

number conservation measures. A copy of these petitions will be

available during regular business hours at the FCC Reference Center,

Portals II, 445 12th Street, S.W., Suite CY-A257, Washington, D.C.

20554, (202) 418-0267.

We will give full consideration to the comments and replies already

filed on these matters. Therefore, parties which have already filed

comments need not re-file their comments or replies.

Interested parties may file comments concerning these matters on or

before July 16, 1999. All filings must reference the NSD File Number of

the state petition which the commenting party wishes to address, and CC

Docket 96-98. Send an original and four copies to the Commission

Secretary, Magalie Roman Salas, Portals II, 445 12th Street, S.W.,

Suite TW-A325, Washington, D.C. 20554 and two copies to Al McCloud,

Network Services Division, Portals II, 445 12th Street, S.W., Suite 6A-

320, Washington, D.C. 20554.

Comments may be filed using the Commission's Electronic Comment

Filing System (ECFS) or by filing paper copies. Comments filed through

the ECFS can be sent as an electronic file via the Internet to http://

www.fcc.gov/e-file/ecfs.html>. Generally, only one copy of an

electronic submission must be filed. If multiple docket or rulemaking

numbers appear in the caption of this proceeding, however, commenters

must transmit one electronic copy of the comments to each docket or

rulemaking number referenced in the caption. In completing the

transmittal screen, commenters should include their full name, Postal

Service mailing address, and the applicable docket or rulemaking

number. Parties may also submit an electronic comment by Internet e-

mail. To get filing instructions for e-mail comments, commenters should

send an e-mail to [email protected], including ``get form '' in the body of the message. A sample form and directions

will be sent in reply. Comments may be filed using the Commission's

Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) or by filing paper copies.

This is a ``permit but disclose'' proceeding for purposes of the

Commission's ex parte rules. See generally 47 CFR 1.1200-1.1216. As a

``permit but disclose'' proceeding, ex parte presentations will be

governed by the procedures set forth in section 1.1206 of the

Commission's rules applicable to non-restricted proceedings. 47 CFR

1.1206.

Parties making oral ex parte presentations are reminded that

memoranda summarizing the presentation must contain a summary of the

substance of the presentation and not merely a listing of the subjects

discussed. More than a one or two sentence description of the views and

arguments presented is generally required. See 47 CFR 1.1206(b)(2).

Other rules pertaining to oral and written presentations are set forth

in section 1.1206(b) as well. For further information contact Al

McCloud of the Common Carrier Bureau, Network Services Division, at

(202) 418-2320 or [email protected]. The TTY number is (202) 418-0484.

Federal Communications Commission.

Blaise A. Scinto,

Deputy Chief, Network Services Division, Common Carrier Bureau.

[FR Doc. 99-16225 Filed 6-24-99; 8:45 am]

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