Federal Communications Commission	DA 21-1506


DA 21-1506
Released:  December 3, 2021

NOTICE OF INTERCONNECTED VOIP NUMBERING AUTHORIZATION GRANTED TO TRUSTID, INC. 

WC Docket No. 20-132
	
By this Notice, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) grants the direct access application of TRUSTID, Inc., (TRUSTID), See Application of TRUSTID for Authorization to Obtain Numbering Resources, WC Docket No. 20-132 (filed May 7, 2020), https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filing/1050732674916 (TRUSTID Application).
 pursuant to the Commission’s procedures for interconnected VoIP numbering authorization applications. See 47 CFR § 52.15(g); see also Numbering Policies for Modern Communications et al., Report and Order, 30 FCC Rcd 6839, 6850, para. 38-42 (2015) (VoIP Direct Access to Numbers Order).
  

Due to the substantial foreign ownership of the applicant, the Bureau initially determined that further review was required to evaluate whether granting the Application served the public interest and established a non-streamlined pleading cycle. See Interconnected VoIP Numbering Authorization Applications Filed by TRUSTID, Inc. Pursuant to Section 52.15(g)(3) of the Commission’s Rules, Non-Streamlined Pleasing Cycle Established, WC Docket 20-132, Public Notice, 36 FCC Rcd 4759 (WCB 2021), https://www.fcc.gov/document/interconnected-voip-numbering-authorization-application-filed-58 (TRUSTID Public Notice); see also TRUSTID Application at 2 (TRUSTID is a subsidiary of Neustar, Inc.); Number Resource Optimization et al., Memorandum Opinion and Order, 32 FCC Rcd 5855, 5856, paras 1-2, n.1, 9 (2017) (describing Hux Investment Pte. Ltd., also referred to as “GIC Investor,” as a “private limited company organized under the laws of Singapore” that has approximately 31% ownership interest in Neustar); see also TrustID Public Notice at 1; 47 CFR § 52.15(g)(3)(iii)(D); see also VoIP Direct Access to Numbers Order, 30 FCC Rcd at 6858, para. 40; see also North American Numbering Council, Report on Foreign Ownership of Interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol Applicants, at 3-5 (Jun. 29, 2017), http://nancchair.org/docs/mtg_docs/Jun17_NANC_Report_on_Foreign_Ownership_of_Interconnected_VOIP_Applicants.pdf (citing potential public interest concerns, including fraud and exhaust of numbering resources, and concerns surrounding consumer protection and U.S. telecommunications network operations).
  The Bureau referred the Application on March 2, 2021 to the relevant Executive Branch agencies for their views on any national security, law enforcement, foreign policy, or trade policy concerns related to the foreign ownership of the applicant. See TRUSTID Public Notice at 2.
   On March 5, 2021, the Committee for the Assessment of Foreign Participation in the United States Telecommunications Services Sector (Committee) notified the Commission that it was reviewing the Application for any national security and law enforcement concerns that may be raised by the foreign ownership and requested that the Commission defer action on the application. See Letter from Christopher Clements, Attorney Advisor, Foreign Investment Review Section, National Security Division, U.S. Department of Justice, to Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary, Federal Communications Commission at 1 (Mar. 5, 2021) (on file at https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filing/103050408105492).
  As requested, we deferred action on the Application. See id. at 3.
  

On May 10, 2021, the Committee notified the Commission that the Applicant had provided complete responses to initial questions posed by the Committee and that the Committee was conducting an initial 120-day review to assess whether grant of the Application would pose a risk to the national security or law enforcement interests of the United States. See Letter from Christopher Clements, Attorney Advisor, Foreign Investment Review Section, National Security Division, U.S. Department of Justice, to Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary, Federal Communications Commission at 1 (May 10, 2021) (on file at https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filing/10510712729149). 
  On August 23, 2021, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, on behalf of the Committee, filed a letter stating that the Committee has no recommendation at this time regarding the Application and no objection to the Commission granting it. See Letter from Kathy Smith, Chief Counsel, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, to Tom Sullivan, Chief, International Bureau, Federal Communications Commission at 1 (Aug. 23, 2021) (on file at https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filing/10823231358880). 
   

The Bureau now has concluded its review and has determined that the application raises no public interest concerns warranting further consideration at this time, and hereby grants TRUSTID’s application for direct access to numbering resources.
      
Effective Grant Date:  December 3, 2021


Please contact DAA@fcc.gov, Margoux Newman at Margoux.Newman@fcc.gov, Jordan Reth at Jordan.Reth@fcc.gov, or Michelle Sclater at Michelle.Sclater@fcc.gov for further information. 

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