[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 89 (Tuesday, May 10, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-11168]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: May 10, 1994]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 1
[CC Docket No. 92-237, FCC 94-79]
Administration of the North American Numbering Plan
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
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SUMMARY: In light of the response to the Commission's earlier Notice of
Inquiry and subsequent developments, the Commission has adopted and
released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking concerning the future
administration of the North American Numbering Plan and some narrower
numbering issues. In its rulemaking notice, the Commission draws
tentative conclusions, makes proposals, and seeks comment on these and
related issues.
DATES: Comments must be filed on or before June 7, 1994, and reply
comments must be filed on or before June 30, 1994.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peyton Wynns, Common Carrier `Bureau,
Industry Analysis Division (202-632-0745), or Allen A. Barna, Common
Carrier Bureau, Tariff Division (202-632-6917).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
This is a summary of the Commission's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
(Notice), adopted March 30, 1994, and released April 4, 1994, FCC 94-
79, in the Common Carrier Docket No. 92-237 proceeding entitled,
``Administration of the North American Numbering Plan'' (the Plan).
This Notice follows the Commission's earlier Notice of Inquiry
(Inquiry). See Administration of the North American Numbering Plan, CC
Docket No. 92-237, 7 FCC Rcd 6837 (1992), 57 FR 53462 (Nov. 10, 1992).
Before divestiture, the American Telephone and Telegraph Company
(AT&T) developed and administered the Plan to coordinate the telephone
numbers used in most of North America. As part of the 1984 divestiture
of AT&T, administration of the Plan was transferred from AT&T to Bell
Communications Research, Inc. (Bellcore). Following release of the
Commission's Inquiry, Bellcore advised that it desired to relinquish
administration of the Plan. In addition to the Commission's efforts,
several industry groups are considering proposals to improve future
administration of the Plan and to address specific numbering issues.
Phase One of this proceeding primarily focuses on who should
administer the Plan and how such administration might be improved.
Phase Two primarily focuses on the planned expansion of Feature Group D
(FGD) Carrier Identification Codes (CICs). The Commission adopted the
Notice to present its tentative conclusions and rulemaking proposals,
and also to seek comment on these and related matters. This action was
taken pursuant to sections 1, 4(i), 201-205, and 403 of the
Communications Act, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 151, 154(i), 201-205, and
403.
Summary of Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
1. Phase One
In the first phase of the Notice, the Commission tentatively
concluded that no federal government agency is ideally suited to
administer the U.S. portion of the Plan but that the Commission could
best assume those ministerial functions if they are to be performed by
any such agency. Among existing non-government agencies, the Commission
sought comment on whether the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry
Solutions (ATIS) or some component of ATIS could handle Plan
administration. Noting the possible advantages of a new, non-government
entity to handle such administration, the Commission also sought
comment on whether such a new entity should be established for this
purpose. The Commission then tentatively concluded that ministerial
administration of the Plan should be undertaken by a single, non-
government entity established by the Commission and subject to its
oversight, but also separate from the Commission and not closely
identified with any particular industry segment. The Commission sought
comment on these tentative conclusions and also on the appropriate
parameters defining the mission, management, structure, functions,
personnel, and capabilities of the new Plan administrator.
2. To finance future administration of the Plan, the Commission
tentatively concluded that it has authority under the Communications
Act to establish a set of Commission numbering fees or to create a new
fund to finance future Plan administration. The Commission sought
comment on these and other possible funding mechanisms. For example, if
only a small amount is needed each year to finance administration of
the Plan, the Commission seeks comment on whether it should impose a
numbering surcharge on one of the funds currently administered by the
National Exchange Carrier Association or use a portion of the annual
surplus from one or more of these funds. The Commission tentatively
concluded that it should impose fees to offset the costs of regulating
U.S. numbering resources and sought comment on this and its other
conclusions. The Commission also sought comment on whether a new
numbering policy board should be established to assist regulators.
3. The Commission invited comment on the international implications
of its various proposals to select, organize, and fund a replacement
for the current Plan administrator. For example, in the event there are
administrative costs of the Plan which are not covered by Commission-
imposed fees, the Commission proposed to establish with other World
Zone 1 regulators a system of charges payable directly to the new Plan
administrator by those who directly benefit from the operation of the
Plan subject to appropriate oversight. The Commission also sought
comment on the specific problems presented by the absence of uniform
nationwide dialing arrangements and on the specific steps the
Commission could take to remedy those problems.
4. Phase Two. In Phase Two, the Commission explained that Carrier
Identification Codes (CICs) are numeric codes widely used within the
telephone industry to provide local exchange access to long distance
carriers, to route traffic, identify types of service, bill access
purchasers, and for other purposes. In view of anticipated demand, the
Commission indicated that the stock of three-digit Feature Group D
(FGD) CICs available for assignment will likely be exhausted within a
year or so. To increase the number of such codes, the Commission noted
that a plan was developed by the industry to expand the format of these
codes from three digits to four digits and also expand the format of
carrier access codes (CACs) from five digits (10XXX) to seven digits
(101XXXX). In light of various objections, the Commission's earlier
inquiry sought comment on whether these planned changes should be
reconsidered.
5. In the Notice, the Commission tentatively concluded that FGD
CICs should be expanded to a four-digit format and sought comment on
that tentative conclusion. However, to facilitate the changeover to the
new codes, the Commission also proposed a transition period of six
years during which subscribers could use both the current three-digit
and the new four-digit CICs. In addition, the Commission sought comment
on whether it should require local exchange carriers to cease screening
and completing interstate, intraLATA ``1+'' Message Toll Service (MTS)
calls and instead deliver those calls to the carrier preselected by the
end user.
Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
6. The Commission certified that the Regulatory Flexibility Act of
1980 does not apply to this rulemaking proceeding because, if the
proposed rule amendments are promulgated, there will not be a
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small business
entities, as defined by Section 601(3) of the Regulatory Flexibility
Act. While the rules proposed by the Commission would apply to
telecommunications corporations of all sizes that are now assigned
telephone numbers or that may in the future seek such assignments, the
impact on small business entities served by these corporations and on
small telecommunications companies is not likely to be significant.
Similarly, the Commission's proposed rules on interstate, intraLATA
toll traffic are not expected to have a significant impact on small
telecommunications companies or other small business entities. The
Commission Secretary was directed to send a copy of the Notice,
including the certification, to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the
Small Business Administration in accordance with paragraph 603(a) of
the Regulatory Flexibility Act, Public Law No. 96-354, 94 Stat. 1164, 5
U.S.C. 601, et seq. (1981).
Comments
7. Pursuant to applicable procedures set forth in Sections 1.415
and 1.419 of the Commission's Rules, 47 CFR 1.415 and 1.419, interested
parties may file comments on or before June 7, 1994, and reply comments
on or before June 30, 1994. To file formally in this proceeding, you
must file an original and four copies of all comments, reply comments,
and supporting comments. If you want each Commissioner to receive a
personal copy of your comments, you should file an original and nine
copies. You should send comments and reply comments to Office of the
Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, Washington, DC 20554.
Comments and reply comments will be available for public inspection
during regular business hours in the FCC Reference Center (Room 239) of
the Federal Communications Commission, 1919 M Street, NW., Washington,
DC 20554.
Ex Parte Analysis
8. This is a non-restricted notice and comment rulemaking
proceeding. Ex parte presentations are permitted, except during the
Sunshine Agenda period, provided they are disclosed as provided in
Commission rules. See generally, 47 CFR 1.1202, 1.1203, and 1.1206(a).
Ordering Clause
9. Accordingly, it is ordered, pursuant to sections 1, 4(i), 201-
205, and 403 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C.
151, 154(i), 201-205, and 403, that Notice is hereby given of the
proposed regulatory actions described above and comment is sought on
these proposals.
List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 1
Communications common carriers, Telecommunications.
Federal Communications Commission.
William F. Caton,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 94-11168 Filed 5-9-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-M
