Federal Communications Commission DA 21-255 DA 21-255 Released: March 2, 2021 INTERCONNECTED VOIP NUMBERING AUTHORIZATION APPLICATION FILED BY TRUSTID, INC. PURSUANT TO SECTION 52.15(g)(3) OF THE COMMISSION’S RULES NON-STREAMLINED PLEADING CYCLE ESTABLISHED WC Docket No. 20-132 We assign WC Docket No. 20-132 for this application and all related filings by the applicant and interested parties. See Wireline Competition Bureau Announces Commencement Date and Process for Interconnected VoIP Providers to File Applications for Authorization to Obtain Telephone Numbers, Public Notice, 31 FCC Rcd 949, 950 (WCB 2016). Comments Due: April 1, 2021 TRUSTID, Inc., (TRUSTID) is an interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) provider with ten percent or greater foreign ownership. 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); 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). TRUSTID has filed an application, pursuant to section 52.15(g)(3) of the Commission’s rules, seeking authorization to obtain North American Numbering Plan telephone numbers directly from the Numbering Administrators. TRUSTID Application at 1; 47 CFR § 52.15(g)(3). For purposes of this Public Notice, the Numbering Administrators include the North American Numbering Plan Administrator and the Pooling Administrator. In its Application, TRUSTID indicates that it intends to initially request numbers in Colorado and Texas. See TRUSTID Application at 2. See also Numbering Policies for Modern Communications et al., Report and Order, 30 FCC Rcd 6839, 6850, para. 24 & n.74 (2015) (VoIP Direct Access to Numbers Order). In light of TRUSTID’s substantial foreign ownership, we find that TRUSTID’s application for authorization for direct access to telephone numbers requires further analysis to determine whether granting the Application will serve the public interest, and we hereby notify TRUSTID that the application is being accepted on a non-streamlined basis and will not be granted automatically. 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://nanc-chair.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). In its application, TRUSTID includes the contact information and acknowledgements required by section 52.15(g)(3)(i) of the Commission’s rules. TRUSTID Application at 1; see 47 CFR § 52.15(g)(3)(i)(A)-(C), (F). TRUSTID provides evidence that it will be capable of providing service within 60 days of the numbering resources activation date. TRUSTID Application at 2; see 47 CFR § 52.15(g)(3)(i)(D). TRUSTID also certifies that it complies with the contribution, regulatory fee, and 911 obligations set forth in section 52.15(g)(3)(i)(E). TRUSTID Application at 2; see 47 CFR § 52.15(g)(3)(i)(E); see also 47 CFR §§ 1.1154, 52.17, 52.32, 64.604(c)(5)(iii); 47 CFR pts. 9 and 54, subpt. H. In addition, TRUSTID certifies that it has the financial, managerial, and technical expertise to provide reliable service. TRUSTID Application at 2; see 47 CFR § 52.15(g)(3)(i)(F). TRUSTID further certifies that none of its key management and technical personnel are being or have been investigated by the Federal Communications Commission, or any law enforcement or regulatory agency, for failure to comply with any law, rule, or order, Id. Finally, TRUSTID certifies that no party to the application is subject to a denial of Federal benefits pursuant to section 5301 of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988. TRUSTID Application at 3; see 47 CFR § 52.15(g)(3)(i)(G); see also 21 U.S.C. § 862. In addition to establishing a non-streamlined comment cycle for the TRUSTID Application because of TRUSTID’s substantial foreign ownership, we are referring the Application 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 Process Reform for Executive Branch Review of Certain FCC Applications and Petitions Involving Foreign Ownership, IB Docket No. 16-155, Report and Order, 35 FCC Rcd 10927, 10935-36, para. 24 (2020) (Executive Branch Review Order); Erratum (Appendix B – Final Rules), DA 20-1404 (OMD/IB rel. Nov. 27, 2020); see id. at 10935-38, paras. 24-28 (setting out which types of applications will generally be referred to the Executive Branch, but noting the Commission has the discretion to refer additional types of applications if it finds that the specific circumstances of an application require the input of the Executive Branch as part of the Commission’s public interest determination); see also Erratum, 47 CFR § 1.40001(a)(1). See 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). Following our referral, the Executive Branch agencies may follow up directly with TRUSTID for additional information. GENERAL INFORMATION The Numbering Authorization Application identified herein has been found, upon initial review, to be acceptable for filing as a non-streamlined application. The Commission reserves the right to return any interconnected VoIP Numbering Authorization Application if, upon further examination, it is determined to be defective and not in conformance with the Commission’s rules and policies. Pursuant to section 52.15(g)(3)(ii) of the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR § 52.15(g)(3)(ii). interested parties may file comments in WC Docket No. 20-132 on or before April 1, 2021. Commenters must serve a copy of comments on TRUSTID no later than the above comment filing date. Interested parties to this proceeding must file any documents in this proceeding using the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS): http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/. See VoIP Direct Access to Numbers Order, 30 FCC Rcd at 6858, para. 39; see also 47 CFR § 52.15(g)(3)(ii). In addition, e-mail one copy of each pleading to each of the following: 1) Margoux Newman, Competition Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, margoux.newman@fcc.gov; 2) Jordan Marie Reth, Competition Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, jordan.reth@fcc.gov; 3) Michelle Sclater, Competition Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, michelle.sclater@fcc.gov. People with Disabilities: To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice), 1-888-835-5322 (tty). The proceeding in this Notice will be treated as a “permit-but-disclose” proceeding in accordance with the Commission’s ex parte rules. Persons making ex parte presentations must file a copy of any written presentation or a memorandum summarizing any oral presentation within two business days after the presentation (unless a different deadline applicable to the Sunshine period applies). Persons making oral ex parte presentations are reminded that memoranda summarizing the presentation must (1) list all persons attending or otherwise participating in the meeting at which the ex parte presentation was made, and (2) summarize all data presented and arguments made during the presentation. If the presentation consisted in whole or in part of the presentation of data or arguments already reflected in the presenter’s written comments, memoranda, or other filings in the proceeding, the presenter may provide citations to such data or arguments in his or her prior comments, memoranda, or other filings (specifying the relevant page and/or paragraph numbers where such data or arguments can be found) in lieu of summarizing them in the memorandum. Documents shown or given to Commission staff during ex parte meetings are deemed to be written ex parte presentations and must be filed consistent with rule 1.1206(b). 47 CFR § 1.1206(b). Participants in this proceeding should familiarize themselves with the Commission’s ex parte rules. For further information, please contact Margoux Newman at margoux.newman@fcc.gov, Jordan Reth at jordan.reth@fcc.gov, or Michelle Sclater at michelle.sclater@fcc.gov. - FCC - 2