Federal Communications Commission Washington, D.C. 20554 June 25, 2001 Mr. Ronald R. Conners Director of NANP Administration NeuStar, Inc. 1120 Vermont Avenue, N.W. Suite 400 Washington, D.C. 20005 RE: Carrier Identification Code (CIO Administration Dear Mr. Conners: By letter dated October 23, 1995, the Common Carrier Bureau (Bureau) directed the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA) to transition from three- digit to four-digit Feature Group D Carrier Identification Codes (CICs) to increase the number of CICs available for assignment.' A plan developed by the Industry Numbering Committee (INC) to transition from three- to four-digit CICs included a transition period during which common carriers could use both three- and four-digit CICs.2 In accordance with the plan, the NANPA was to cease assigning three-digit CICs during the transition period (which included their equivalent - four-digit CICs that begin with a zero), and to begin assigning four-digit CICs, but only those in the 5XXX and 6XXX ranges. At the conclusion of the transition period, a zero was added to all three-digit CICs to convert them into four-digit CICs. The conversion from three to four-digit CICs was completed successfully on December 31,1999.3 Since the limitation on assignable CICs was imposed, U.S. carriers have only been assigned four-digit CICs that begin with either a five or a six.4 Despite the restriction, a U.S. carrier has petitioned the Commission for a specific CIC beginning 1 See Letter from Kathleen M. H. Wallman, Chief, Common Carrier Bureau, to Ronald R. Conners, Director of NANP Administration, dated October 23, 1995. See also Administration of the North American Numbering Plan, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 9 FCC Red 2068 (1994). The Commission has plenary authority to administer numbering resources pursuant to section 251 (e) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended by the Telecommuincations Act of 1996. 47 U.S.C. § 251(e). The Bureau issued this directive pursuant to delegated authority. See generally 47 C.F.R. § 0.291. 2 Carrier Identification Code Assignment Guidelines, INCO 95-0127-006 (reissued January 8, 2001), p. 3 (CIC Assignment Guidelines). 3 The transition period ended when the last common carrier converted successfully to four digit CICs on that date. 4 Section 251(e) gives the FCC jurisdiction over those portions of the North American Numbering Plan that pertain to the U.S. only. 47 U.S.C. § 251(e). 12945 with a zero; that petition remains pending.5 The NANPA continued to assign such CICs to Canadian common carriers, however, at the request of the Canadian regulatory authorities. Recently, the NANPA reported to the North American Numbering Council (NANC) that the current pool of eligible CICs in the 5XXX and 6XXX ranges will exhaust in approximately 18 months,6 and advised that planning should begin immediately to make the other ranges of CICs available for assignment to U.S. carriers. We agree that the successful transition from three to four digit CICs, the current and anticipated demand for CICs, and the projected exhaust of CICs in the 5XXX and 6XXX ranges all warrant modification to the administrative instructions issued previously by the Bureau. Accordingly, the NANPA is hereby directed to lift the current administrative restriction on assignable four-digit CICs. All available four-digit CICs, including those beginning with zero, shall be made available for assignment, except as explained below. To ensure the continued availability of a sufficient number of CICs, the current limitation of two CICs per entity will remain in place at this time. Entities that already have assigned to them two or more CICs may not request from the NANPA additional CICs from any range. The Bureau may reexamine the necessity of this limitation after evaluating the NANC's report assessing the impact of requiring that all resellers of telecommunications services obtain CICs.7 The NANC submitted this report to the Bureau on June 18, 2001. Entities may begin requesting available CICs in all ranges on August 6, 2001 at 12:00 p.m. (noon) Eastern Standard Time. All properly filed CIC applications shall be processed by the NANPA on a first-come, first-served basis, in accordance with the INC Guidelines, except where the guidelines are in conflict with the directives herein. The NANPA is directed to withhold from assignment all CICs in the 41IX and X411 formats.8 These CICs shall be deemed "restricted" and unavailable for assignment until further notice.9 The NANPA may, if necessary and after consultation with the 5 See U.S. Connect's Request for Intervention by the FCC Pursuant to Neustar's January 10, 2000 Decision, filed March 13,2000. 6 CIC Issues Management Group (IMG) Report to the NANC, March 15, 2001 (draft). 7 See Policy and Rules Concerning Unauthorized Changes of Consumers Long Distance Carriers, Third Report and Order and Second Order on Reconsideration, 15 FCC Red. 15,996 (2000). 8 According to the NANPA, only one of these CICs (6411) is currently assigned. 9 In a separate proceeding, the Commission will likely address whether these CIC<; could be used to offer competitive directory assistance (DA) service, as an alternative to 411 presubscription. See Common Carrier Bureau Seeks Further Comment on Telegate's Proposal for Presubscription to "411" Directory Assistance Services, Public Notice, 15 FCC Red. 7563 (2000) (seeking comment cm whether a lower cost alternative to 411 presubscription for opening the DA market to competition would be to require all DA service to be provided through "1010" access codes). 12946 Bureau, establish interim procedures to effectuate the administrative instructions contained in this letter. The Bureau intends to address other issues relating to the administration of CICs, including CIC reclamation and the propriety of the CIC Assignment Guidelines, paragraph 5.2, "Transfer of CICs," which allow entities to retain more than two CICs if they are acquired through mergers and acquisitions. lo In resolving these issues, we seek to optimize the use of these valuable numbering resources, and we look forward to the NANPA's continued cooperation in this effort. Sincerely, Dorothy T. Attwood Chief, Common Carrier Bureau Federal Communications Commission CC: Robert C. Atkinson, NANC Chairman 10 As a direct result of this provision, at least one entity controls more than 100 CICs. 12947