*Pages 1--8 from Rollout.pdf* PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th St., S. W. Washington, D. C. 20554 DA 01- 2419 Released: October 17, 2001 THE COMMON CARRIER BUREAU SEEKS COMMENT ON THE NATIONAL THOUSANDS- BLOCK NUMBER POOLING ROLLOUT SCHEDULE CC Docket 99- 200 Pleading Cycle Established COMMENTS: November 6, 2001 REPLY COMMENTS: November 16, 2001 In this Public Notice, the Common Carrier Bureau (Bureau) seeks comment on the proposed national thousands- block number pooling rollout schedule (rollout schedule). As requested by the Commission, NeuStar, Inc., the National Thousands- Block Number Pooling Administrator, developed the proposed rollout schedule. NeuStar will coordinate and administer the allocation of thousands- blocks for the national pooling rollout. In the Numbering Resource Optimization First Report and Order, the Commission determined that implementation of thousands- block number pooling is essential to extending the life of the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) by making the assignment and use of NXX codes more efficient. 1 Thousand- block number pooling is an alternative method for the assignment of numbering resources which involves the allocation of blocks of a thousand sequential numbers within an NXX code 2 to different service providers in a particular rate area. The rollout schedule for national thousands- block number pooling is divided into three-month segments, or quarters. Starting in March 2002, number pools will be established in approximately 21 numbering plan areas (NPAs) each quarter, with an initial concentration on NPAs in the top 100 MSAs, and a special focus on jeopardy NPAs that are within the largest 100 1 Numbering Resource Optimization, Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 15 FCC Rcd 7574, 7625, para. 122 (rel. Mar. 31, 2000)( First Report and Order). 2 NXX code or central office code refers to the second three digits (also called digits D- E- F) of a ten- digit telephone number in the form NXX- NXX- XXXX, where N represents any one of the numbers 2 through 9 and X represents one of the numbers 0 through 9. 47 C. F. R. § 52.7( c). News media information 202 / 418- 0500 Fax- On- Demand 202 / 418- 2830 TTY 202 / 418- 2555 Internet: http:// www. fcc. gov ftp. fcc. gov 1 MSAs. Pooling trials that have commenced before March 2002 will be transitioned into the national pooling administration program prior to the national pooling rollout. States may choose to opt out of the rollout schedule on a temporary basis by informing NeuStar of their decision three months prior to the rollout date. 3 In addition, to serve the needs of states outside of the top 100 MSAs that believe that pooling would be beneficial in an NPA within their state, the Bureau will consider petitions from states to opt into the rollout schedule on a case- by- case basis. 4 We will also consider requests from states that have petitioned for but did not receive delegated authority to conduct pooling trials, to opt into the rollout schedule on a case- by- case basis. 5 Finally, state commissions may petition to substitute an alternative NPA for the NPA listed in the rollout schedule, as long as the substitute NPA has a life span of at least one year and is located within one of the top 100 MSAs. 6 We hereby seek comment on the proposed national thousands- block number pooling rollout schedule. Commenters should address the structure of the rollout schedule, including the proposed dates for implementing thousands- block pooling for specific NPAs. In addition, requests from states to opt into or out of the rollout schedule, or to substitute an alternative NPA, should be filed in response to this Public Notice within the initial comment period. The proposed rollout schedule and a detailed copy of the 1 st quarter schedule are attached to this Public Notice, and will be available during regular business hours at the FCC Reference Center, Portals II, 445 12 th Street, S. W., Suite CY- A257, Washington, D. C. 20554, (202) 418- 0270. Interested parties may file comments or requests concerning this matter on or before November 6, 2001, and reply comments on or before November 16, 2001. All filings must reference CC Docket 99- 200. Send an original and four copies to the Commission Secretary, Magalie Roman Salas, Portals II, 445 12 th Street, SW, Suite TW- A325, Washington, D. C. 20554 and two copies to Carmell Weathers, Network Services Division, Portals II, 445 12 th Street, S. W., Room 6- B153, 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 . If using this method, please reference CC Docket No. 99- 200 in the Proceeding block. Generally, only one copy of an electronic submission must be filed. 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 3 See First Report and Order at para. 163. 4 See First Report and Order at para. 164. 5 See Common Carrier Bureau Seeks Comment on the Petitions of Representative Keith R. McCall and other Pennsylvania State Representatives and the Louisiana Public Service Commission Requesting Delegated Authority to Implement Number Conservation Measures and Common Carrier Bureau Declines to Address the Remaining Requests of the Georgia Public Service Commission, the Kentucky Public Service Commission and the Louisiana Public Service Commission for Delegated Authority to Implement Number Conservation Measures, Public Notice, CC Docket No. 96- 98, 99- 200, DA 01- 2174 (rel. October 9, 2001). 6 See First Report and Order at para. 165. 2 instructions for e- mail comments, commenters should send an e- mail to ecfs@ fcc. gov, including “get form ” in the body of the message. A sample form and directions will be sent in reply. After filing your comments electronically, please send an e- mail to Carmell Weathers, cweather@ fcc. gov, indicating that comments have been filed. This is a “permit but disclose” proceeding for purposes of the Commission’s ex parte rules. 7 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. 8 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. 9 Other rules pertaining to oral and written presentations are set forth in Section 1.1206( b) as well. For further information contact Sanford Williams of the Common Carrier Bureau, Network Services Division, at (202) 418- 2320 or swilliam@ fcc. gov. The TTY number is (202) 418- 0484. -FCC- 7 See generally 47 C. F. R. §§ 1.1200- 1.1216. 8 47 C. F. R. § 1.1206. 9 47 C. F. R. § 1.1206( b)( 2). 3 4 5 6 7 8