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

Public Resources

The NANP resources are considered a public resource and are not owned by the Assignees or the Numbering Resource Administrators. Administrative assignment of the CO Code and Thousands-Block public resource to a CO Code Holder or Thousands-Block Holder does not imply ownership of the resource to the CO Code Holder or Thousands-Block Holder to which it is Assigned. Consequently, the Numbering Resources cannot be sold, brokered, bartered, or leased by the Assignee for a fee or other consideration.

If a Numbering Resource is sold, brokered, bartered, or leased for a fee, the resource is subject to Reclamation.⁹ Unused numbers may also be subject to Reclamation for Reassignment to other SPs.¹⁰

Thousands-Block Number Pooling

Thousands-Block Number Pooling references in these administration guidelines apply only to the assignment of Thousands-Blocks to Thousands-Block Applicants providing service within specific Rate Centers:

a) where SP Location Routing Number (LRN) LNP has been implemented;

b) where Thousands-Block Number Pooling has been mandated by the appropriate regulatory body;

c) where a SP has chosen to participate in Thousands-Block Number Pooling in an optional Rate Center outside of the top 100 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs), the SP cannot withdraw from pooling in an optional Rate Center once the SP has submitted a forecast or Donation or has been Assigned a Thousands-Block. Once a SP chooses to participate in Thousands-Block Number Pooling in an optional Rate Center all numbering applications shall be submitted directly to the PA.¹¹

Audits

Both SPs and Numbering Resource Administrators are subject to Audits. Further information may be found in 47 CFR § 52.15 (k), FCC 00-104 ¶62, FCC 00-429 ¶81-99, and FCC 01-362 ¶95-111. Audits of the Numbering Resource Administrators, CO Code Applicants/Holders, Audit and Thousands-Block Applicants/Holders shall be performed by the Audits Branch of the Accounting Safeguards Division in the FCC Wireline Competition Bureau, or other designated agents to:

a) ensure uniformity in application of these guidelines by the Numbering Resource Administrators to all Numbering Resource applications received by the Numbering Resource Administrators;

b) ensure compliance with these guidelines by CO Code and Thousands-Block Applicants and the Numbering Resource Administrators; and

c) ensure the efficient and effective use of Numbering Resources by CO Code and Thousands-Block Applicants/Holders and efficient and effective management of Numbering Resources by the Numbering Resource Administrators.

Service Provider Responsibilities

CO Code and Thousands-Block Applicants and CO Code and Thousands-Block Holders shall comply with the responsibilities listed in these guidelines and are responsible for obtaining the current version. These guidelines are available from the NANPA or PA web sites, as well as the ATIS website.

SPs have many responsibilities that vary depending on whether the SP is acting as a CO Code Holder of a Non-Pooled CO Code (NPA-NXX), a CO Code Holder of a Pooled CO Code (NPA-NXX), or a Thousands-Block Holder of a Thousands-Block(s). These responsibilities are outlined throughout these guidelines.

These industry consensus guidelines are expected to apply throughout the NANP area subject to guidelines and constraints of the NANP area administrations unless the affected administrations direct otherwise.¹² SPs and Numbering Resource Administrators are responsible for managing Numbering Resources in accordance with these guidelines.

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.

⁹ Supported by the North American Numbering Council (NANC) in letter dated 7/30/97 from the NANC Chairman to the Industry Numbering Committee (INC) Moderator.

¹⁰ FCC 00-104 ¶5. See also 47 CFR § 52.15 (i) (1).

¹¹ The Pooling Administrator (PA) shall provide a report to the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA) of the Service Providers (SP) participating in pooling in a voluntary Rate Center outside of the top 100 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA). If NANPA determines from the report that a SP is participating in pooling in a voluntary Rate Center, NANPA shall deny a Part 1 Central Office Code (NPA-NXX) Application for that Rate Center.

¹² The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has approved the "Canadian Central Office Code (NXX) Assignment Guidelines" for the administration of Central Office (CO) Codes within Canadian Numbering Plan Areas (NPAs) by the Canadian Numbering Administrator (CNA).