scope:

Purpose & Scope

This document specifies guidelines for the administration and assignment of CO Codes (NPA-NXX), and Thousands-Blocks (NPA-NXX-Xs) to Local Number Portability (LNP)-capable SPs⁶ within geographic numbering plan areas (NPAs). This does not preclude a future effort to address non-geographic NPA in the same guidelines.⁷ Throughout these guidelines the term Numbering Resources shall be used when referencing both CO Codes and Thousands-Blocks.

These guidelines do not address the issue of who shall fulfill the role of the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA) or the Pooling Administrator (PA). Throughout these guidelines, the terms NANPA and CO Code Administrator are used interchangeably, and the term Numbering Resource Administrators is used when referring to both NANPA and the PA. The guidelines described herein were developed by the industry without any assumption on who should be the NANPA(s) or PA(s).⁸

⁶ In Rate Centers where Thousands-Block Number Pooling has been ordered or implemented; the Thousands-Block Number Pooling sections of these guidelines do not apply where Thousands-Block Number Pooling has not been ordered or implemented. See FCC 03-126 ¶14.

⁷ Separate procedures apply to the assignment of Central Office (CO) Codes (NPA-NXX) within currently Assigned Service Access Codes (SACs), and others will be developed, as appropriate, as new SACs are Assigned by the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA). For example, CO Code assignment guidelines for the 900 SACs are available. Separate guidelines also will be prepared to address the assignment of Numbering Resources reserved for non-geographic applications.