*Pages 1--2 from Microsoft Word - 12884.doc* PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th St., S. W. Washington, D. C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418- 0500 Fax- On- Demand 202 / 418- 2830 TTY 202 / 418- 2555 Internet: http:// www. fcc. gov ftp. fcc. gov DA 01- 2667 Released: November 15, 2001 COMMON CARRIER BUREAU EXTENDS THE DECEMBER 8, 2001 DEADLINE FOR COMPLIANCE WITH DIRECTIVE TO DATABASE SERVICE MANAGEMENT, INC. CONCERNING THE TOLL- FREE DATABASE DISCONNECT AND SUSPEND STATUS FUNCTIONS CC Docket 95- 155 On December 7, 2000, the Common Carrier Bureau (Bureau) released a letter (Keller-Wade Letter) directing the SMS/ 800 database administrator, Database Service Management, Inc. (DSMI), by February 3, 2001, to modify the Disconnect Status and Suspend Status functions in the SMS/ 800 database, consistent with the Federal Communications Commission’s (Commission) toll- free number regulations and policies. 1 Pursuant to requests from industry representatives, on February 2, 2001, the Bureau directed DSMI to postpone the mandated changes to the Disconnect Status and Suspend Status functions until August 6, 2001. 2 Subsequently, the Bureau released a public notice 3 seeking comment on, among other things: (1) a petition filed by AT& T Corporation seeking clarification of the Commission’s toll- free regulations; 4 and (2) alternative 1 Letter from L. Charles Keller, Chief, Network Services Division, to Mr. Michael Wade, President, Database Service Management, Inc., DA 00- 2754 (rel. Dec. 7, 2000). 2 Letter from Staci Pies, Deputy Chief, Network Services Division, to Mr. Michael Wade, President, Database Service Management, Inc., DA 01- 292 (rel. Feb. 2, 2001). In response to the Keller- Wade Letter, some Responsible Organizations asserted that the required adjustments to their internal systems, as well as the necessary testing to ensure compatibility with DSMI’s changes, could not be completed by the February 3, 2001 deadline. See, e. g., Letter from Henry G. Hultquist, Associate Counsel, WorldCom, Inc., to Magalie Roman Salas, Secretary, dated January 29, 2001 (requesting a six- month delay); Letter from Norina Moy, Director, Federal Regulatory, Sprint, to L. Charles Keller, Chief, Network Services Division, dated December 19, 2000 (concerned that sixty days would be insufficient to test the changes). 3 Common Carrier Bureau Seeks Comment on AT& T Corporation’s Request for Declaratory Ruling and Clarification of Changes to the Toll- Free Number Administration System, Public Notice, DA 01- 1463 (rel. June 22, 2001) (June 2001 Public Notice). 4 Request for Declaratory Ruling and Clarification, filed by AT& T Corporation (May 24, 2001) (AT& T Petition). Specifically, AT& T disputes the Bureau’s interpretation of the Commission’s toll- free regulations as discussed in the Keller- Wade Letter. AT& T also requests that the Commission clarify that certain transfers of toll-free numbers between subscribers are permissible, such as when toll- free numbers are misprinted in marketing materials, and therefore, do not violate the Commission’s toll- free regulations. 1 2 proposals for preventing the transfer of toll- free numbers between subscribers. The June 2001 Public Notice was followed by a letter from the SMS/ 800 Number Administration Committee (SNAC) dated June 27, 2001 requesting that the Bureau extend the August 6, 2001 deadline until December 8, 2001. 5 In particular, the SNAC set forth a schedule to implement the changes to the Responsible Organizations’ own systems evidently necessitated by the directives in the Keller-Wade Letter, with a readiness date of December 8, 2001. On July 13, 2001, the Bureau released a public notice extending the compliance deadline until the Bureau had resolved the issues raised in the June 2001 Public Notice or until December 8, 2001, whichever came first. 6 In a letter dated July 25, 2001, the SNAC, however, requests another extension of six to eight months after the Commission releases an order addressing the issues described in the June 2001 Public Notice. 7 The SNAC contends that it would be inefficient to proceed with design- related activities before the Commission completed its review of the Keller- Wade Letter. The SNAC also indicates that, once the system design is finalized, the industry would need an additional six to eight months to implement the changes. 8 We agree that DSMI and the industry need additional direction from the Commission before proceeding to implement the changes contemplated in the Keller- Wade Letter. We therefore extend the December 8, 2001 deadline until such time that the Bureau is able to address the outstanding issues raised in the June 2001 Public Notice. We continue to emphasize, however, that the Commission’s toll- free regulations and policies prohibit Responsible Organizations from transferring toll- free numbers directly from one subscriber to another, unless the Commission grants a waiver or changes the rules. For further information, contact Jennifer Gorny of the Common Carrier Bureau, Network Services Division, at (202) 418- 2320 or jgorny@ fcc. gov. The TTY number is (202) 418- 0484. -FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION- 5 Letter from Stephanie Cowart, OBF Moderator, to Diane Griffin Harmon, Network Services Division, dated June 27, 2001. 6 Common Carrier Bureau Extends Deadline for Compliance With Directive to Database Service Management, Inc. Concerning the Toll- Free Database Disconnect and Suspend Functions, DA 00- 2754, Public Notice, DA 01-1677 (rel. July 13, 2001). 7 Letter from Stephanie Cowart, OBF Moderator, to Dorothy T. Attwood, Chief, Common Carrier Bureau, dated July 25, 2001. 8 Id. 2