As used in this subpart:

(a) Area code or numbering plan area (NPA). The term “area code or numbering plan area” refers to the first three digits (NXX) 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 any one of the numbers 0 through 9.

(b) Area code relief. The term “area code relief” refers to the process by which central office codes are made available when there are few or no unassigned central office codes remaining in an existing area code and a new area code is introduced. Area code relief includes planning for area code “jeopardy,” which is a situation where central office codes may become exhausted before an area code relief plan can be implemented.

(c) Central office (CO) code. The term “central office code” refers to the second three digits (NXX) 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 any one of the numbers 0 through 9.

(d) Central office (CO) code administrator. The term “central office code administrator” refers to the entity or entities responsible for managing central office codes in each area code.

(e) North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA). The term “North American Numbering Plan Administrator” refers to the entity or entities responsible for managing the NANP.

(f) Billing and Collection Agent. The term “Billing & Collection Agent” (“B&C Agent”) refers to the entity responsible for the collection of funds to support numbering administration for telecommunications services from the United States telecommunications industry and NANP member countries.

(g) Pooling Administrator (PA). The term “Pooling Administrator” refers to the entity or entities responsible for administering a thousands-block number pool.

(h) Contamination. Contamination occurs when at least one telephone number within a block of telephone numbers is not available for assignment to end users or customers. For purposes of this provision, a telephone number is “not available for assignment” if it is classified as administrative, aging, assigned, intermediate, or reserved as defined in § 52.15(f)(1).

(i) Donation. The term “donation” refers to the process by which carriers are required to contribute telephone numbers to a thousands-block number pool.

(j) Inventory. The term “inventory” refers to all telephone numbers distributed, assigned or allocated:

(1) To a service provider; or

(2) To a pooling administrator for the purpose of establishing or maintaining a thousands-block number pool.

[61 FR 47353, Sept. 6, 1996, as amended at 62 FR 55180, Oct. 23, 1997; 65 FR 37707, June 16, 2000]

(a) To ensure that telecommunications numbers are made available on an equitable basis, the administration of telecommunications numbers shall, in addition to the specific requirements set forth in this subpart:

(1) Facilitate entry into the telecommunications marketplace by making telecommunications numbering resources available on an efficient, timely basis to telecommunications carriers;

(2) Not unduly favor or disfavor any particular telecommunications industry segment or group of telecommunications consumers; and

(3) Not unduly favor one telecommunications technology over another.

(b) If the Commission delegates any telecommunications numbering administration functions to any State or other entity pursuant to 47 U.S.C. 251(e)(1), such State or entity shall perform these functions in a manner consistent with this part.

The duties of the North American Numbering Council (NANC), may include, but are not limited to:

(a) Advising the Commission on policy matters relating to the administration of the NANP in the United States;

(b) Making recommendations, reached through consensus, that foster efficient and impartial number administration;

(c) Initially resolving disputes, through consensus, that foster efficient and impartial number administration in the United States by adopting and utilizing dispute resolution procedures that provide disputants, regulators, and the public notice of the matters at issue, a reasonable opportunity to make oral and written presentations, a reasoned recommended solution, and a written report summarizing the recommendation and the reasons therefore;

(d) [Reserved]

(e) Recommending to the Commission an appropriate mechanism for recovering the costs of NANP administration in the United States, consistent with § 52.17;

(f) Carrying out the duties described in § 52.25; and

(g) Carrying out this part as directed by the Commission;

(h) Monitoring the performance of the NANPA and the B&C Agent on at least an annual basis; and

(i) Implementing, at the direction of the Commission, any action necessary to correct identified problems with the performance of the NANPA and the B&C Agent, as deemed necessary.

[61 FR 47353, Sept. 6, 1996, as amended at 62 FR 55180, Oct. 23, 1997; 71 FR 65750, Nov. 9, 2006]

The North American Numbering Plan Administrator (“NANPA”) and the associated “B&C Agent” will conduct their respective operations in accordance with this section. The NANPA and the B&C Agent will conduct their respective operations with oversight from the Federal Communications Commission (the “Commission”) and with recommendations from the North American Numbering Council (“NANC”).

(a)(1) Neutrality. The NANPA and the B&C Agent shall be non-governmental entities that are impartial and not aligned with any particular telecommunication industry segment. Accordingly, while conducting their respective operations under this section, the NANPA and B&C Agent shall ensure that they comply with the following neutrality criteria:

(i) The NANPA and B&C Agent may not be an affiliate of any telecommunications service provider(s) as defined in the Telecommunications Act of 1996, or an affiliate of any interconnected VoIP provider as that term is defined in § 52.21(h). “Affiliate” is a person who controls, is controlled by, or is under the direct or indirect common control with another person. A person shall be deemed to control another if such person possesses, directly or indirectly—

(A) An equity interest by stock, partnership (general or limited) interest, joint venture participation, or member interest in the other person ten (10%) percent or more of the total outstanding equity interests in the other person, or

(B) The power to vote ten (10%) percent or more of the securities (by stock, partnership (general or limited) interest, joint venture participation, or member interest) having ordinary voting power for the election of directors, general partner, or management of such other person, or

(C) The power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such other person, whether through the ownership of or right to vote voting rights attributable to the stock, partnership (general or limited) interest, joint venture participation, or member interest) of such other person, by contract (including but not limited to stockholder agreement, partnership (general or limited) agreement, joint venture agreement, or operating agreement), or otherwise;

(ii) The NANPA and B&C Agent, and any affiliate thereof, may not issue a majority of its debt to, nor may it derive a majority of its revenues from, any telecommunications service provider. “Majority” shall mean greater than 50 percent, and “debt” shall mean stocks, bonds, securities, notes, loans or any other instrument of indebtedness; and

(iii) Notwithstanding the neutrality criteria set forth in paragraphs (a)(1) (i) and (ii) of this section, the NANPA and B&C Agent may be determined to be or not to be subject to undue influence by parties with a vested interest in the outcome of numbering administration and activities. NANC may conduct an evaluation to determine whether the NANPA and B&C Agent meet the undue influence criterion.

(2) Any subcontractor that performs—

(i) NANP administration and central office code administration, or

(ii) Billing and Collection functions, for the NANPA or for the B&C Agent must also meet the neutrality criteria described in paragraph (a)(1).

(b) Term of administration. The NANPA shall provide numbering administration, including central office code administration, for the United States portion of the North American Numbering Plan (“NANP”) for an initial period of five (5) years. At any time prior to the termination of the initial or subsequent term of administration, such term may be renewed for up to five (5) years with the approval of the Commission and the agreement of the NANPA. The B&C Agent shall provide billing and collection functions for an initial period of five (5) years. At any time prior to the termination of the initial or subsequent term of administration, such term may be renewed for up to five (5) years with the approval of the Commission and the agreement of the B&C Agent.

(c) Changes to regulations, rules, guidelines or directives. In the event that regulatory authorities or industry groups (including, for example, the Industry Numbering Committee—INC, or its successor) issue rules, requirements, guidelines or policy directives which may affect the functions performed by the NANPA and the B&C Agent, the NANPA and the B&C Agent shall, within 10 business days from the date of official notice of such rules, requirements, guidelines or policy directives, assess the impact on its operations and advise the Commission of any changes required. NANPA and the B&C Agent shall provide written explanation why such changes are required. To the extent the Commission deems such changes are necessary, the Commission will recommend to the NANP member countries appropriate cost recovery adjustments, if necessary.

(d) Performance review process. NANPA and the B&C Agent shall develop and implement an internal, documented performance monitoring mechanism and shall provide such performance review on request of the Commission on at least an annual basis. The annual assessment process will not preclude telecommunications industry participants from identifying performance problems to the NANPA, the B&C Agent and the NANC as they occur, and from seeking expeditious resolution. If performance problems are identified by a telecommunications industry participant, the NANC, B&C Agent or NANPA shall investigate and report within 10 business days of notice to the participant of corrective action, if any, taken or to be taken. The NANPA, B&C Agent or NANC (as appropriate) shall be permitted reasonable time to take corrective action, including the necessity of obtaining the required consent of the Commission.

(e) Termination. If the Commission determines at any time that the NANPA or the B&C Agent fails to comply with the neutrality criteria set forth in paragraph (a) of this section or substantially or materially defaults in the performance of its obligations, the Commission shall advise immediately the NANPA or the B&C Agent of said failure or default, request immediate corrective action, and permit the NANPA or B&C Agent reasonable time to correct such failure or default. If the NANPA or B&C Agent is unwilling or unable to take corrective action, the Commission may, in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act and the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, take any action that it deems appropriate, including termination of the NANPA's or B&C Agent's term of administration.

(f) Required and optional enterprise services. Enterprise Services, which are services beyond those described in § 52.13 that may be provided by the new NANPA for specified fees, may be offered with prior approval of the Commission.

(1) Required Enterprise Services. At the request of a code holder, the NANPA shall, in accordance with industry standards and for reasonable fees, enter certain routing and rating information, into the industry-approved database(s) for dissemination of such information. This task shall include reviewing the information and assisting in its preparation.

(2) Optional Enterprise Services. The NANPA may, subject to prior approval and for reasonable fees, offer “Optional Enterprise Services” which are any services not described elsewhere in this section.

(3) Annual report. NANPA shall identify and record all direct costs associated with providing Enterprise Services separately from the costs associated with the non-enterprise NANPA functions. The NANPA shall submit an annual report to the NANC summarizing the revenues and costs for providing each Enterprise Service. NANPA shall be audited by an independent auditor after the first year of operations and every two years thereafter, and submit the report to the Commission for appropriate review and action.

[63 FR 55180, Oct. 23, 1997, as amended at 73 FR 9481, Feb. 21, 2008]

(a) The North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA) shall be an independent and impartial non-government entity.

(b) The NANPA shall administer the numbering resources identified in paragraph (d) of this section. It shall assign and administer NANP resources in an efficient, effective, fair, unbiased, and non-discriminatory manner consistent with industry-developed guidelines and Commission regulations. It shall support the Commission's efforts to accommodate current and future numbering needs. It shall perform additional functions, including but not limited to:

(1) Ensuring the efficient and effective administration and assignment of numbering resources by performing day-to-day number resource assignment and administrative activities;

(2) Planning for the long-term need for NANP resources to ensure the continued viability of the NANP by implementing a plan for number resource administration that uses effective forecasting and management skills in order to make the industry aware of the availability of numbering resources and to meet the current and future needs of the industry;

(3) Complying with guidelines of the North American Industry Numbering Committee (INC) or its successor, related industry documentation, Commission regulations and orders, and the guidelines of other appropriate policy-making authorities;

(4) Providing management supervision for all of the services it provides, including responsibility for achieving performance measures established by the NANC and the INC in industry guidelines;

(5) Participating in the NANC annual performance review as described in §§ 52.11 and 52.12;

(6) Establishing and maintaining relationships with current governmental and regulatory bodies, and their successors, including the United States Federal Communications Commission, Industry Canada, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, and other United States, Canadian, and Caribbean numbering authorities and regulatory agencies, and addressing policy directives from these bodies;

(7) Cooperating with and actively participating in numbering standards bodies and industry fora, such as INC and, upon request, the Canadian Steering Committee on Numbering (CSCN);

(8) Representing the NANP to national and international numbering bodies;

(9) Developing and maintaining communications channels with other countries who also participate in the NANP to ensure that numbering needs of all countries served by the NANP are met;

(10) Attending United States Study Group A meetings and maintaining a working knowledge of Study Group 2 International Telecommunications Union activities on behalf of the United States telecommunications industry;

(11) Reviewing requests for all numbering resources to implement new applications and services and making assignments in accordance with industry-developed resource planning and assignment guidelines;

(12) Referring requests for particular numbering resources to the appropriate industry body where guidelines do not exist for those resources;

(13) Participating in industry activities to determine whether, when new telecommunications services requiring numbers are proposed, NANP numbers are appropriate and what level of resource is required (e.g., line numbers, central office codes, NPA codes);

(14) Maintaining necessary administrative staff to handle the legal, financial, technical, staffing, industry, and regulatory issues relevant to the management of all numbering resources, as well as maintaining the necessary equipment, facilities, and proper billing arrangements associated with day-to-day management of all numbering resources;

(15) Managing the NANP in accordance with published guidelines adopted in conjunction with the industry and the appropriate NANP member countries' governing agencies, and referring issues to the appropriate industry body for resolution when they have not been addressed by the industry;

(16) Responding to requests from the industry and from regulators for information about the NANP and its administration, as the primary repository for numbering information in the industry;

(17) Providing upon request information regarding how to obtain current documents related to NANP administration;

(18) Providing assistance to users of numbering resources and suggesting numbering administration options, when possible, that will optimize number resource utilization;

(19) Coordinating its numbering resource activities with the Canadian Number Administrator and other NANP member countries' administrators to ensure efficient and effective management of NANP numbering resources; and

(20) Determining the final allocation methodology for sharing costs between NANP countries.

(c) In performing the functions outlined in paragraph (b) of this section, the NANPA shall:

(1) Ensure that the interests of all NANP member countries are considered;

(2) Assess fairly requests for assignments of NANP numbering resources and ensure the assignment of numbering resources to appropriate service providers;

(3) Develop, operate and maintain the computer hardware, software (database) and mechanized systems required to perform the NANPA and central office (CO) Code Administration functions;

(4) Manage projects such as Numbering Plan Area (NPA) relief (area code relief) planning, Numbering Resource Utilization and Forecast (NRUF) data collection, and NPA and NANP exhaust projection;

(5) Facilitate NPA relief planning meetings;

(6) Participate in appropriate industry activities;

(7) Manage proprietary data and competitively sensitive information and maintain the confidentiality thereof;

(8) Act as an information resource for the industry concerning all aspects of numbering (i.e., knowledge and experience in numbering resource issues, International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Recommendation E.164, the North American Numbering Plan (NANP), NANP Administration, INC, NANP area country regulatory issues affecting numbering, number resource assignment guidelines, central office code administration, relief planning, international numbering issues, etc.); and

(9) Ensure that any action taken with respect to number administration is consistent with this part.

(d) The NANPA and, to the extent applicable, the B&C Agent, shall administer numbering resources in an efficient and non-discriminatory manner, in accordance with Commission rules and regulations and the guidelines developed by the INC and other industry groups pertaining to administration and assignment of numbering resources, including, but not limited to:

(1) Numbering Plan Area (NPA) codes,

(2) Central Office codes for the 809 area,

(3) International Inbound NPA 456 NXX codes,

(4) (NPA) 500 NXX codes,

(5) (NPA) 900 NXX codes,

(6) N11 Service codes,

(7) 855-XXXX line numbers,

(8) 555-XXXX line numbers,

(9) Carrier Identification Codes,

(10) Vertical Service Codes,

(11) ANI Information Integer (II) Digit Pairs,

(12) Non Dialable Toll Points, and

(13) New numbering resources as may be defined.

(e) Relationships with other NANP member countries' administrators and authorities. The NANPA shall address policy directives from other NANP member countries' governmental and regulatory authorities and coordinate its activities with other NANP member countries' administrators, if any, to ensure efficient and effective management of NANP resources.

(f) Transition plan. The NANPA shall implement a transition plan, subject to Commission approval, leading to its assumption of NANPA functions within 90 days of the effective date of a Commission order announcing the selection of the NANPA.

(g) Transfer of intellectual property. The new NANPA must make available any and all intellectual property and associated hardware resulting from its activities as numbering administrator including, but not limited to, systems and the data contained therein, software, interface specifications and supporting documentation and make such property available to whomever NANC directs free of charge. The new NANPA must specify any intellectual property it proposes to exclude from the provisions of this paragraph based on the existence of such property prior to its selection as NANPA.

[61 FR 47353, Sept. 6, 1996, as amended at 62 FR 55181, Oct. 23, 1997; 71 FR 65750, Nov. 9, 2006]

Link to an amendment published at 88 FR 80637, Nov. 20, 2023.

(a) Central Office Code Administration shall be performed by the NANPA, or another entity or entities, as designated by the Commission.

(b) Duties of the entity or entities performing central office code administration may include, but are not limited to:

(1) Processing central office code assignment applications and assigning such codes in a manner that is consistent with this part;

(2) Accessing and maintaining central office code assignment databases;

(3) Conducting the Numbering Resource Utilization and Forecast (NRUF) data collection;

(4) Monitoring the use of central office codes within each area code and forecasting the date by which all central office codes within that area code will be assigned; and

(5) Planning for and initiating area code relief, consistent with § 52.19.

(c) [Reserved]

(d) Central Office (CO) Code Administration functional requirements. The NANPA shall manage the United States CO code numbering resource, including CO code request processing, NPA code relief and jeopardy planning, and industry notification functions. The NANPA shall perform its CO Code administration functions in accordance with the published industry numbering resource administration guidelines and Commission orders and regulations of 47 CFR chapter I.

(e) [Reserved]

(f) Mandatory reporting requirements—(1) Number use categories. Numbering resources must be classified in one of the following categories:

(i) Administrative numbers are numbers used by telecommunications carriers to perform internal administrative or operational functions necessary to maintain reasonable quality of service standards.

(ii) Aging numbers are disconnected numbers that are not available for assignment to another end user or customer for a specified period of time. Numbers previously assigned to residential customers may be aged for no less than 45 days and no more than 90 days. Numbers previously assigned to business customers may be aged for no less than 45 days and no more than 365 days.

(iii) Assigned numbers are numbers working in the Public Switched Telephone Network under an agreement such as a contract or tariff at the request of specific end users or customers for their use, or numbers not yet working but having a customer service order pending. Numbers that are not yet working and have a service order pending for more than five days shall not be classified as assigned numbers.

(iv) Available numbers are numbers that are available for assignment to subscriber access lines, or their equivalents, within a switching entity or point of interconnection and are not classified as assigned, intermediate, administrative, aging, or reserved.

(v) Intermediate numbers are numbers that are made available for use by another telecommunications carrier or non-carrier entity for the purpose of providing telecommunications service to an end user or customer. Numbers ported for the purpose of transferring an established customer's service to another service provider shall not be classified as intermediate numbers.

(vi) Reserved numbers are numbers that are held by service providers at the request of specific end users or customers for their future use. Numbers held for specific end users or customers for more than 180 days shall not be classified as reserved numbers.

(2) Reporting carrier. The term “reporting carrier” refers to a telecommunications carrier that receives numbering resources from the NANPA, a Pooling Administrator or another telecommunications carrier.

(3) Data collection procedures. (i) Reporting carriers shall report utilization and forecast data to the NANPA.

(ii) Reporting shall be by separate legal entity and must include company name, company headquarters address, Operating Company Number (OCN), parent company OCN, and the primary type of business in which the reporting carrier is engaged. The term “parent company” refers to the highest related legal entity located within the state for which the reporting carrier is reporting data.

(iii) All data shall be filed electronically in a format approved by the Common Carrier Bureau.

(4) Forecast data reporting. (i) Reporting carriers shall submit to the NANPA a five-year forecast of their yearly numbering resource requirements.

(ii) In areas where thousands-block number pooling has been implemented:

(A) Reporting carriers that are required to participate in thousands-block number pooling shall report forecast data at the thousands-block (NXX-X) level per rate center;

(B) Reporting carriers that are not required to participate in thousands-block number pooling shall report forecast data at the central office code (NXX) level per rate center.

(iii) In areas where thousands-block number pooling has not been implemented, reporting carriers shall report forecast data at the central office code (NXX) level per NPA.

(iv) Reporting carriers shall identify and report separately initial numbering resources and growth numbering resources.

(5) Utilization data reporting. (i) Reporting carriers shall submit to the NANPA a utilization report of their current inventory of numbering resources. The report shall classify numbering resources in the following number use categories: assigned, intermediate, reserved, aging, and administrative.

(ii) Rural telephone companies, as defined in the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 153(37), that provide telecommunications service in areas where local number portability has not been implemented shall report utilization data at the central office code (NXX) level per rate center in those areas.

(iii) All other reporting carriers shall report utilization data at the thousands-block (NXX-X) level per rate center.

(6) Reporting frequency. (i) Reporting carriers shall file forecast and utilization reports semi-annually on or before February 1 for the preceding reporting period ending on December 31, and on or before August 1 for the preceding reporting period ending on June 30. Mandatory reporting shall commence August 1, 2000.

(ii) State commissions may reduce the reporting frequency for NPAs in their states to annual. Reporting carriers operating in such NPAs shall file forecast and utilization reports annually on or before August 1 for the preceding reporting period ending on June 30, commencing August 1, 2000.

(iii) A state commission seeking to reduce the reporting frequency pursuant to paragraph (f) (6)(ii) of this section shall notify the Wireline Competition Bureau and the NANPA in writing prior to reducing the reporting frequency.

(7) Access to data and confidentiality—States shall have access to data reported to the NANPA provided that they have appropriate protections in place to prevent public disclosure of disaggregated, carrier-specific data.

(8) Reports of Permanently Disconnected Numbers—Reporting carriers must report information regarding NANP numbers in accordance with § 64.1200(l) of this title.

(g) Applications for numbering resources—(1) General requirements. An applicant for numbering resources must include in its application the applicant's company name, company headquarters address, OCN, parent company's OCN(s), and the primary type of business in which the numbering resources will be used.

(2) Initial numbering resources. An applicant for initial numbering resources must include in its application evidence that the applicant is authorized to provide service in the area for which the numbering resources are requested; and that the applicant is or will be capable of providing service within sixty (60) days of the numbering resources activation date. A provider of VoIP Positioning Center (VPC) services that is unable to demonstrate authorization to provide service in a state may instead demonstrate that the state does not certify VPC service providers in order to request pseudo-Automatic Numbering Identification (p-ANI) codes directly from the Numbering Administrators for purposes of providing 911 and E-911 service.

(3) Commission authorization process. A provider of interconnected VoIP service may show a Commission authorization obtained pursuant to this paragraph (g)(3) as evidence that it is authorized to provide service under paragraph (g)(2) of this section.

(i) Definition. The term foreign carrier found in this section is given the same meaning as in § 63.09(d) of this chapter.

(ii) Contents of the application for interconnected VoIP provider numbering authorization. An application for authorization must reference this section and must contain the following:

(A) The applicant's name, address, and telephone number and contact information for personnel qualified to address issues relating to regulatory requirements, compliance with Commission's rules in this chapter, 911, and law enforcement;

(B) An acknowledgment that the authorization granted under this paragraph (g)(3) is subject to compliance with applicable Commission numbering rules in this part; numbering authority delegated to the states; and industry guidelines and practices regarding numbering as applicable to telecommunications carriers;

(C)-(F) [Reserved]

(G) An acknowledgment that the applicant must file requests for numbers with the relevant state commission(s) at least 30 days before requesting numbers from the Numbering Administrators;

(H) Proof that the applicant is or will be capable of providing service within sixty (60) days of the numbering resources activation date in accordance with paragraph (g)(2) of this section;

(I) [Reserved]

(J) A certification that the applicant complies with its applicable Universal Service Fund contribution obligations under part 54, subpart H, of this chapter, its Telecommunications Relay Service contribution obligations under § 64.604(c)(5)(iii) of this chapter, its NANP and local number portability (LNP) administration contribution obligations under §§ 52.17 and 52.32 of this chapter, and its obligations to pay regulatory fees under § 1.1154 of this chapter;

(K) A certification that the applicant possesses the financial, managerial, and technical expertise to provide reliable service. This certification must include the name of applicant's key management and technical personnel, such as the Chief Operating Officer and the Chief Technology Officer, or equivalent, and state that none of the identified personnel are being or have been investigated by the Commission or any law enforcement or regulatory agency for failure to comply with any law, rule, or order; and

(L) [Reserved]

(M) A certification pursuant to §§ 1.2001 and 1.2002 of this chapter 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, see 21 U.S.C. 862.

(N) [Reserved]

(iii) Filing procedure. An applicant for Commission authorization under this section must file its application electronically through the “Submit a Non-Docketed Filing” module of the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS). Each application shall be accompanied by the fee prescribed in part 1, subpart G, of this chapter.

(iv) Public notice and review period for streamlined pleading cycle. Upon determination by the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) that the applicant has filed a complete application that is appropriate for streamlined treatment, the Bureau will assign a docket number to the application and issue a public notice stating that the application has been accepted for filing as a streamlined application. The applicant must make all subsequent filings relating to its application in this docket. Parties may file comments addressing an application for authorization no later than 15 days after the Bureau releases a public notice stating that the application has been accepted for filing, unless the public notice specifies a different filing date. An application under this section is deemed granted by the Commission on the 31st day after the Commission releases a public notice stating that the application has been accepted for filing, unless the Bureau notifies the applicant that the grant will not be automatically effective.

(v) Non-streamlined processing of applications. If an application discloses that the applicant has reportable ownership by a foreign person or entity, the Bureau shall remove the application from streamlined processing. The Bureau may also remove an application from streamlined processing at its discretion for other reasons. The Bureau shall notify the applicant by public notice that it is removing the application from streamlined processing, and shall state the reason for the removal. An application may also receive non-streamlined processing if:

(A) An applicant fails to respond promptly to Commission inquiries;

(B) An application is associated with a non-routine request for waiver of the Commission's rules in this chapter;

(C) An application would, on its face, violate a Commission rule in this chapter or the Communications Act;

(D) Timely filed comments on the application raise public interest concerns that require further Commission review; or

(E) The Bureau determines that the application requires further analysis to determine whether granting the application serves the public interest.

(vi) Additional information. Applicants must provide additional information requested by the Bureau during and after its initial review of a direct access application. Failure to respond to such a request or other official correspondence may result in the rejection of the application without prejudice. Any additional information that the Bureau may require must be submitted in the same manner as the original application filing, unless the Bureau specifies another method.

(vii) Rejection of applications. The Bureau may reject an application by announcing the rejection, the reasons for the rejection, and whether the rejection is with or without prejudice via public notice if it determines or has a reasonable basis to believe that:

(A) The applicant cannot satisfy the qualification requirements for a Commission authorization under this paragraph (g)(3);

(B) The applicant has made a false statement or certification to the Commission;

(C) The applicant has engaged in behavior contrary to the public interest; or

(D) Granting the application would not serve the public interest.

(viii) Authorization suspension. The Wireline Competition Bureau or Enforcement Bureau may suspend a direct access authorization holder's access to new numbering resources under 5 U.S.C. 558(c):

(A) After either Bureau determines that the authorization holder acted willfully; or public health, interest, or safety requires an immediate suspension; or

(B) After giving the authorization holder notice and an opportunity to demonstrate compliance with the Commission's rules in this chapter.

(ix) Authorization revocation. The Wireline Competition Bureau or Enforcement Bureau shall determine appropriate procedures and initiate revocation and/or termination proceedings and revoke and/or terminate an authorization, as required by due process and applicable law and in light of the relevant facts and circumstances, including providing the authorization holder with notice and opportunity to respond. Either Bureau may commence such revocation and/or termination proceedings if:

(A) The authorization holder has failed to comply with the Commission's numbering rules in this part.

(B) The authorization holder no longer meets the requirements for a Commission authorization under this paragraph (g)(3);

(C) The authorization holder, or officer or authorized representative of the authorization holder, has made a false statement or certification to the Commission; or

(D) Revoking and/or terminating the authorization is in the public interest.

(x) Conditions applicable to all interconnected VoIP provider numbering authorizations. An interconnected VoIP provider authorized to request numbering resources directly from the Numbering Administrators under this section shall:

(A) Maintain the accuracy of all contact information and certifications in its application. If any contact information or certification is no longer accurate, the provider must file a correction with the Commission and each applicable state within thirty (30) days of the change of contact information or certification. The Commission may use the updated information or certification to determine whether a change in authorization status is warranted;

(B) Comply with the applicable Commission numbering rules in this part; numbering authority delegated to the states; and industry guidelines and practices regarding numbering as applicable to telecommunications carriers;

(C) File requests for numbers with the relevant state commission(s) at least thirty (30) days before requesting numbers from the Numbering Administrators; and

(D) Provide accurate regulatory and numbering contact information to each state commission when requesting numbers in that state.

(4) Growth numbering resources. (i) Applications for growth numbering resources shall include:

(A) A Months-to-Exhaust Worksheet that provides utilization by rate center for the preceding six months and projected monthly utilization for the next twelve (12) months; and

(B) The applicant's current numbering resource utilization level for the rate center in which it is seeking growth numbering resources.

(ii) The numbering resource utilization level shall be calculated by dividing all assigned numbers by the total numbering resources in the applicant's inventory and multiplying the result by 100. Numbering resources activated in the Local Exchange Routing Guide (LERG) within the preceding 90 days of reporting utilization levels may be excluded from the utilization calculation.

(iii) All service providers shall maintain no more than a six-month inventory of telephone numbers in each rate center or service area in which it provides telecommunications service.

(iv) The NANPA shall withhold numbering resources from any U.S. carrier that fails to comply with the reporting and numbering resource application requirements established in this part. The NANPA shall not issue numbering resources to a carrier without an OCN. The NANPA must notify the carrier in writing of its decision to withhold numbering resources within ten (10) days of receiving a request for numbering resources. The carrier may challenge the NANPA's decision to the appropriate state regulatory commission. The state commission may affirm or overturn the NANPA's decision to withhold numbering resources from the carrier based on its determination of compliance with the reporting and numbering resource application requirements herein.

(5) Non-compliance. The NANPA shall withhold numbering resources from any U.S. carrier that fails to comply with the reporting and numbering resource application requirements established in this part. The NANPA shall not issue numbering resources to a carrier without an Operating Company Number (OCN). The NANPA must notify the carrier in writing of its decision to withhold numbering resources within ten (10) days of receiving a request for numbering resources. The carrier may challenge the NANPA's decision to the appropriate state regulatory commission. The state commission may affirm, or may overturn, the NANPA's decision to withhold numbering resources from the carrier based on its determination that the carrier has complied with the reporting and numbering resource application requirements herein. The state commission also may overturn the NANPA's decision to withhold numbering resources from the carrier based on its determination that the carrier has demonstrated a verifiable need for numbering resources and has exhausted all other available remedies.

(6) State access to applications. State regulatory commissions shall have access to service provider's applications for numbering resources. The state commissions should request copies of such applications from the service providers operating within their states, and service providers must comply with state commission requests for copies of numbering resource applications. Carriers that fail to comply with a state commission request for numbering resource application materials shall be denied numbering resources.

(h) National utilization threshold. All applicants for growth numbering resources shall achieve a 60% utilization threshold, calculated in accordance with paragraph (g)(3)(ii) of this section, for the rate center in which they are requesting growth numbering resources. This 60% utilization threshold shall increase by 5% on June 30, 2002, and annually thereafter until the utilization threshold reaches 75%.

(i) Reclamation of numbering resources. (1) Reclamation refers to the process by which service providers are required to return numbering resources to the NANPA or the Pooling Administrator.

(2) State commissions may investigate and determine whether service providers have activated their numbering resources and may request proof from all service providers that numbering resources have been activated and assignment of telephone numbers has commenced.

(3) Service providers may be required to reduce contamination levels to facilitate reclamation and/or pooling.

(4) State commissions shall provide service providers an opportunity to explain the circumstances causing the delay in activating and commencing assignment of their numbering resources prior to initiating reclamation.

(5) The NANPA and the Pooling Administrator shall abide by the state commission's determination to reclaim numbering resources if the state commission is satisfied that the service provider has not activated and commenced assignment to end users of their numbering resources within six months of receipt.

(6) The NANPA and Pooling Administrator shall initiate reclamation within sixty days of expiration of the service provider's applicable activation deadline.

(7) If a state commission declines to exercise the authority delegated to it in this paragraph, the entity or entities designated by the Commission to serve as the NANPA shall exercise this authority with respect to NXX codes and the Pooling Administrator shall exercise this authority with respect to thousands-blocks. The NANPA and the Pooling Administrator shall consult with the Wireline Competition Bureau prior to exercising the authority delegated to it in this provision.

(j) Sequential number assignment. (1) All service providers shall assign all available telephone numbers within an opened thousands-block before assigning telephone numbers from an uncontaminated thousands-block, unless the available numbers in the opened thousands-block are not sufficient to meet a specific customer request. This requirement shall apply to a service provider's existing numbering resources as well as any new numbering resources it obtains in the future.

(2) A service provider that opens an uncontaminated thousands-block prior to assigning all available telephone numbers within an opened thousands-block should be prepared to demonstrate to the state commission:

(i) A genuine request from a customer detailing the specific need for telephone numbers; and

(ii) The service provider's inability to meet the specific customer request for telephone numbers from the available numbers within the service provider's opened thousands-blocks.

(3) Upon a finding by a state commission that a service provider inappropriately assigned telephone numbers from an uncontaminated thousands-block, the NANPA or the Pooling Administrator shall suspend assignment or allocation of any additional numbering resources to that service provider in the applicable NPA until the service provider demonstrates that it does not have sufficient numbering resources to meet a specific customer request.

(k) Numbering audits. (1) All telecommunications service providers shall be subject to “for cause” and random audits to verify carrier compliance with Commission regulations and applicable industry guidelines relating to numbering administration.

(2) The Enforcement Bureau will oversee the conduct and scope of all numbering audits conducted under the Commission's jurisdiction, and determine the audit procedures necessary to perform the audit. Numbering audits performed by independent auditors pursuant to this section shall be conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants' standards for compliance attestation engagements, as supplemented by the guidance and direction of the Chief of the Enforcement Bureau.

(3) Requests for “for cause” audits shall be forwarded to the Chief of the Enforcement Bureau, with a copy to the Chief of the Common Carrier Bureau. Requests must state the reason for which a “for cause” audit is being requested and include documentation of the alleged anomaly, inconsistency, or violation of the Commission rules or orders or applicable industry guidelines. The Chief of the Enforcement Bureau will provide carriers up to 30 days to provide a written response to a request for a “for cause” audit.

[61 FR 47353, Sept. 6, 1996, as amended at 62 FR 55182, Oct. 23, 1997; 65 FR 37707, June 16, 2000; 66 FR 9531, Feb. 8, 2001; 67 FR 6434, Feb. 12, 2002; 67 FR 13226, Mar. 21, 2002; 68 FR 25843, May 14, 2003; 71 FR 65750, Nov. 9, 2006; 80 FR 66479, Oct. 29, 2015; 84 FR 11232, Mar. 26, 2019; 88 FR 80636, Nov. 20, 2023]

The B&C Agent shall:

(a) Calculate, assess, bill and collect payments for all numbering administration functions and distribute funds to the NANPA, or other agent designated by the Common Carrier Bureau that performs functions related to numbering administration, on a monthly basis;

(b) Distribute to carriers the “Telecommunications Reporting Worksheet,” described in § 52.17(b).

(c) Keep confidential all data obtained from carriers and not disclose such data in company-specific form unless authorized by the Commission. Subject to any restrictions imposed by the Chief of the Wireline Competition Bureau, the B & C Agent may share data obtained from carriers with the administrators of the universal service support mechanism (See 47 CFR 54.701 of this chapter), the TRS Fund (See 47 CFR 64.604(c)(4)(iii)(H) of this chapter), and the local number portability cost recovery (See 47 CFR 52.32). The B & C Agent shall keep confidential all data obtained from other administrators. The B & C Agent shall use such data, from carriers or administrators, only for calculating, collecting and verifying payments. The Commission shall have access to all data reported to the Administrator. Contributors may make requests for Commission nondisclosure of company-specific revenue information under § 0.459 of this chapter by so indicating on the Telecommunications Reporting Worksheet at the time that the subject data are submitted. The Commission shall make all decisions regarding nondisclosure of company-specific information.

(d) Develop procedures to monitor industry compliance with reporting requirements and propose specific procedures to address reporting failures and late payments;

(e) File annual reports with the appropriate regulatory authorities of the NANP member countries as requested; and

(f) Obtain an audit from an independent auditor after the first year of operations and annually thereafter, which shall evaluate the validity of calculated payments. The B&C Agent shall submit the audit report to the Commission for appropriate review and action.

[62 FR 55183, Oct. 23, 1997, as amended at 64 FR 41330, July 30, 1999; 66 FR 9532, Feb. 8, 2001; 67 FR 13226, Mar. 21, 2002; 73 FR 9481, Feb. 21, 2008; 80 FR 66479, Oct. 29, 2015]

All telecommunications carriers in the United States shall contribute on a competitively neutral basis to meet the costs of establishing numbering administration.

(a) Contributions to support numbering administration shall be the product of the contributors' end-user telecommunications revenues for the prior calendar year and a contribution factor determined annually by the Chief of the Common Carrier Bureau; such contributions to be no less than twenty-five dollars ($25). The contribution factor shall be based on the ratio of expected number administration expenses to end-user telecommunications revenues. Carriers that have no end-user telecommunications revenues shall contribute twenty-five dollars ($25). In the event that contributions exceed or are inadequate to cover administrative costs, the contribution factor for the following year shall be adjusted by an appropriate amount.

(b) All telecommunications carriers in the United States shall complete and submit a “Telecommunications Reporting Worksheet” (as published by the Commission in the Federal Register), which sets forth the information needed to calculate contributions referred to in paragraph (a) of this section. The worksheet shall be certified to by an officer of the contributor, and subject to verification by the Commission or the B & C Agent at the discretion of the Commission. The Chief of the Common Carrier Bureau may waive, reduce, modify, or eliminate contributor reporting requirements that prove unnecessary and require additional reporting requirements that the Bureau deems necessary to the sound and efficient administration of the number administration cost recovery.

[64 FR 41331, July 30, 1999, as amended at 73 FR 9481, Feb. 21, 2008; 80 FR 66479, Oct. 29, 2015]

(a) State commissions may resolve matters involving the introduction of new area codes within their states. Such matters may include, but are not limited to: Directing whether area code relief will take the form of a geographic split, an overlay area code, or a boundary realignment; establishing new area code boundaries; establishing necessary dates for the implementation of area code relief plans; and directing public education efforts regarding area code changes.

(b) State commissions may perform any or all functions related to initiation and development of area code relief plans, so long as they act consistently with the guidelines enumerated in this part, and subject to paragraph (b)(2) of this section. For the purposes of this paragraph, initiation and development of area code relief planning encompasses all functions related to the implementation of new area codes that were performed by central office code administrators prior to February 8, 1996. Such functions may include: declaring that the area code relief planning process should begin; convening and conducting meetings to which the telecommunications industry and the public are invited on area code relief for a particular area code; and developing the details of a proposed area code relief plan or plans.

(1) The entity or entities designated by the Commission to serve as central office code administrator(s) shall initiate and develop area code relief plans for each area code in each state that has not notified such entity or entities, pursuant to paragraph (b)(2) of this section, that the state will handle such functions.

(2) Pursuant to paragraph (b)(1) of this section, a state commission must notify the entity or entities designated by the Commission to serve as central office code administrator(s) for its state that such state commission intends to perform matters related to initiation and development of area code relief planning efforts in its state. Notification shall be written and shall include a description of the specific functions the state commission intends to perform. Where the NANP Administrator serves as the central office code administrator, such notification must be made within 120 days of the selection of the NANP Administrator.

(c) New area codes may be introduced through the use of:

(1) A geographic area code split, which occurs when the geographic area served by an area code in which there are few or no central office codes left for assignment is split into two or more geographic parts;

(2) An area code boundary realignment, which occurs when the boundary lines between two adjacent area codes are shifted to allow the transfer of some central office codes from an area code for which central office codes remain unassigned to an area code for which few or no central office codes are left for assignment; or

(3) An all services area code overlay, which occurs when a new area code is introduced to serve the same geographic area as one or more existing area code(s), subject to the following conditions:

(i) No all services area code overlay may be implemented unless all numbering resources in the new overlay area code are assigned to those entities requesting assignment on a first-come, first-serve basis, regardless of the identity of, technology used by, or type of service provided by that entity, except to the extent that a technology- or service-specific overlay is authorized by the Commission. No group of telecommunications carriers shall be excluded from assignment of numbering resources in the existing area code, or be assigned such resources only from the all services overlay area code, based solely on that group's provision of a specific type of telecommunications service or use of a particular technology; and

(ii) No area code overlay may be implemented unless there exists, at the time of implementation, mandatory ten-digit dialing for every telephone call within and between all area codes in the geographic area covered by the overlay area code.

(4) A technology-specific or service-specific overlay, which occurs when a new area code is introduced to serve the same geographic area as one or more existing area code(s) and numbering resources in the new area code overlay are assigned to a specific technology(ies) or service(s). State commissions may not implement a technology-specific or service-specific overlay without express authority from the Commission.

[61 FR 47353, Sept. 6, 1996, as amended at 64 FR 63617, Nov. 16, 1998; 64 FR 62984, Nov. 18, 1999; 67 FR 6434, Feb. 12, 2002]