Npa Allocation Plan and Assignment Guidelines

ATIS-0300055

NPA ALLOCATION PLAN AND ASSIGNMENT GUIDELINES

Reissued with the resolution of Issue 680

November 12, 2010

Copyright 2010 by the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions, Inc.

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The Industry Numbering Committee (INC) provides an open forum to address and resolve industry-wide issues associated with planning, administration, allocation, assignment and use of North American Numbering Plan (NANP) numbering resources within the NANP area.

This document is maintained under the direction of ATIS and the INC. Suggestions for improvement of this document are welcome. They should be sent to the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions, INC Staff, 1200 G Street NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC20005. All changes to this document shall be made through the INC issue resolution process and adopted by the INC as set forth in the ATIS Operating Procedures.

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NPA Allocation Plan and Assignment GuidelinesATIS-0300055

November 12, 2010

Table of Contents

1.0PURPOSE AND SCOPE

2.0ASSUMPTIONS AND CONSTRAINTS

3.0ASSIGNMENT PRINCIPLES

4.0NPA ALLOCATION PLAN

5.0RESPONSIBILITIES OF NPA CODE ADMINISTRATOR

6.0NPA CODE CONSERVATION AND PLANNING

7.0MAINTENANCE OF GUIDELINES

8.0APPEAL PROCESS

9.0SPECIFIC GEOGRAPHIC NPA RELIEF CODES

9.1Definition

9.2NPA Relief Planning and Assignment Process

9.3Responsibilities of Central Office Code Administrators

10.0UNIQUE NANP GEOGRAPHIC NPA CODES TO COUNTRIES

10.1Introduction

10.2NPA Code Assignment Criteria

10.3NPA Code Assignment Procedures

11.0NANP EXPANSION NPA CODES

12.0EASILY RECOGNIZABLE NPA CODES (ERCs)

12.1Definition

12.2ERC Assignment Criteria

12.3Application Procedures

12.4Additional Code Requests

13.0GENERAL PURPOSE NPA CODES (GPCs)

13.1Definition

13.2General Purpose NPA Code Assignment Criteria

13.3Application Procedures

13.4Additional Code Requests

14.0TERMS AND DEFINITIONS

15.0Acronyms

NPA Code Assignment FormsPart 1 - Assignment Request

NPA Code Assignment FormsPart 2 - Administrator Response

1.0PURPOSE AND SCOPE

This document specifies guidelines for the assignment of Numbering Plan Area (NPA) codes. NPA codes are the first three digits of the 10-digit North American Numbering Plan (NANP) format (the format is made up of 10 digits in the form of NXX-NXX-XXXX[1], Section 14.0 provides details of the format). NPA codes have traditionally been used to identify distinct exclusive geographic areas, commonly referred to as area codes. NPAs have also been assigned to services provided on a non-geographic basis (e.g., 800 NPA is assigned to a service for which the called party, rather than the calling party, is charged for the call).

1.1These guidelines apply only to the assignment of NPA codes.

1.2These guidelines were developed by the Industry Numbering Committee (INC) using the industry consensus process.

1.3These guidelines are expected to apply throughout the area served by the NANP unless the affected regulatory administrations direct otherwise.

1.4These guidelines do not supersede applicable governmental or regulatory principles, procedures and requirements.

1.5The assignment of an entire NPA code to an entity for its exclusive use will not be permitted (excluding those situations referenced in Section 10).

2.0ASSUMPTIONS AND CONSTRAINTS

The development of these guidelines includes the following assumptions and constraints:

2.1NANP resources, including those covered in these guidelines, are collectively managed by the North American Telecommunications industry with oversight of the North American federal regulatory authorities.The NANP and the NANP resources are developed in conformance with the International Telecommunication Union Telecommunications Standardization Sector (ITU-T) recommendations including E.164 “The international public telecommunication numbering plan.”[2]

The NANP resources are considered a public resource and are not owned by the assignees. Consequently, the resources cannot be sold, brokered, bartered or leased by the assignee for a fee or other consideration.

If a resource is sold, brokered, bartered, or leased for a fee, the resource is subject to reclamation by the Administrator.

2.2These guidelines are intended to apply to NPA codes which are assigned from the time of completion of these guidelines.

2.3The allocation and assignment of NPA codes, as set forth in these guidelines, remains in effect until there is industry consensus and/or policy direction to change these assignment guidelines.

2.4NPA numbering resources shall be assigned to permit the most efficient and effective use of a finite numbering resource in order to maximize the existing resource pool and delay the need to develop and implement an expanded numbering/ dialing plan. To promote the efficient and effective use of NPA resources, audits should be performed to ensure the consistent application of, and compliance with, these guidelines.

2.5The 3-digit numbers 000 through 199 are unavailable for assignment as NPAs. The use of 0/1 for dialing prefixes currently prohibits assigning the above numbers as NPAs. In addition, these 3-digit numbers are used in some cases for operational functions (e.g., 1XX test and routing codes). Other specific 3-digit numbers considered unavailable for assignment are indicated in Section 4.2.

2.6These guidelines were developed by the industry without any assumption regarding who should be the NPA Code Administrator.

2.7The applicant/user of the NPA code must have authorization, if required, from the appropriate regulatory authority(s) to operate in the area in which it intends to provide the service for which the NPA code has been obtained.

2.8The guidelines should provide the greatest latitude in the provision of public telecommunications services while effectively managing a finite resource.

2.9NPA codes are a public resource and administrative assignment of the NPA code does not imply ownership of the resource by the administrator(s) performing the assignment function, nor does it imply ownership by the service providers utilizing the resource. The assignment of an NPA code by the NPA Code Administrator implies that NPA code will be used for the expressed and exclusive purpose for which it was assigned.

2.10Implementation of these code assignments is beyond the scope of these guidelines. These guidelines treat only the allocation and assignment of NPA codes.

2.11The INC will provide formal notification to the NANPA through its meeting notes of any recommendation by the INC to assign, change or withdraw an NPA(s).

2.12SPs and numbering resource administrators are responsible for managing numbering resources in accordance with these guidelines and the orders of applicable regulatory authorities. Both SPs and numbering resource administrators are subject to audits. Further information may be found in FCC 00-104 ¶62, FCC 00-429 ¶81-99, FCC 01-362 ¶95-111, and 47CFR§52.15(k).

The NANP Resources assigned in this guideline are expected to be used in conformance with this guideline and the related ITU-T recommendations. Misuse of a resource either as defined in this guideline or as defined in ITU-T E.156 “Guidelines for ITU-T action on reported misuse of E.164 number resources” should be reported to the NANPA.[3] See Section 7 for contact information.

3.0ASSIGNMENT PRINCIPLES

To allow the greatest possible latitude in providing services, the following assignment principles apply to all aspects of these guidelines:

3.1NPA codes shall be assigned in a fair and impartial manner.

3.2NPA codes will be used in accordance with the application(s) for which they are assigned.

3.3NPA codes are a finite resource. For this reason, these guidelines were developed to promote the efficient and effective use of a finite numbering resource, minimizing the cost and need to expand its availability while at the same time allowing for maximum flexibility in the introduction of new services, capabilities, and features. Therefore, the concern for the need to conserve this resource will not be permitted to inhibit or impede the ability to offer new telecommunications capabilities or services.

3.4NPA resources will continue to be administered for the overall good and utilization by the user public and the telecommunications sector and, as such, are not to be considered "owned" by the service providers or users utilizing the resource.

3.5NPA resources are available for assignment subject to the requirements of these guidelines. The final determination of the use of the NPA resource rests with the appropriate public policy body.

3.6The assignment of NPA code numbers will be in accordance with federal, provincial, state, and local regulations, and industry-approved assignment guidelines, as appropriate.

3.7NPA resources are centrally administered within the area served by the NANP. Therefore, all requests for NPA assignment shall routinely be submitted to the administrator (whether the request is for a reserved code or a new code) accompanied by the appropriate information specified in the guidelines. The administrator will be responsible to process the NPA application in accordance with these guidelines (see Section 5.0). However, any potential telecommunications service provider may bring requests for NPA resources directly to the INC, providing the application contains all appropriate information outlined in these guidelines.

3.8Any potential telecommunications service provider can request NPA resources.

3.9 The assignment of NPA resources must consider and encourage efficient operation of the public switched telecommunications network.

3.10 NPA resources should be assigned in a manner that minimizes user confusion.

4.0NPA ALLOCATION PLAN

4.1NPA codes are divided into four categories or partitions: Specific Geographic NPA Relief Codes, NANP Expansion NPA Codes, Easily Recognizable NPA Codes and General Purpose NPA Codes[4]. Sections 9 - 13 provide additional detail about each of these partitions.

4.1.1Specific Geographic NPA Relief Codes are NPA codes reserved in anticipation of assignment to relieve specific geographic NPA codes that are exhausting within the next 10 years as identified in the most recent North American Numbering Plan Numbering Resource Utilization/Forecast (NRUF)[5]. A list of these NPA codes is maintained by the NPA Administrator.

4.1.2NANP Expansion NPA codes are codes that will be used to facilitate expansion of the current NANP 10-digit format (i.e., codes of the format N9X are reserved for this purpose).

4.1.3 Easily Recognizable NPA Codes (ERCs) are codes that, due to their unique digit pattern (e.g., N22, N33...N88), are used to convey to customers certain unique knowledge regarding a call to the telephone number being dialed. N00 NPA codes (formerly known as Service Access Codes, or SACs) are included in this partition. As was the case for SACs, ERCs are typically reserved for use as non-geographic codes, and have been used to identify services rather than geographic areas.

4.1.4 General Purpose NPA Codes (GPCs) are codes available for assignment for growth in the existing partitions or for new services or uses. Any NPA code not included in the other three above partitions is a General Purpose NPA code.

4.2The following NPA codes are not available for assignment:

4.2.1N11 format codes because these codes will remain reserved for special service functions. (e.g., emergency - 911, hearing or speech impaired access - 711, non-emergency public access - 311).

4.2.2950 because of potential conflict with Feature Group B service (i.e., 950-XXXX where XXXX is the Carrier Identification Code).

4.2.3555 because of potential conflict with Directory Assistance Services or other information services.

4.3At the time these guidelines were developed, the industry believed it might prove beneficial to set aside, where possible, blocks of NPA codes to meet some unanticipated need sometime in the future. The industry also agreed that if an NPA assignment was required from one of these blocks of NPA codes, then that assignment should be made. Codes presently set aside are the 37X and 96X series.

5.0RESPONSIBILITIES OF NPA CODE ADMINISTRATOR

The code administrator shall:

5.1Upon receipt of a written request for an NPA assignment, the administrator will review the nature of the request and determine the next steps:

5.1.1 If the request is for a specific geographic relief code, or a reserved code for geographic relief, or a reserved code to supplement an existing assigned ERC or GPC, the administrator shall have discretionary authority to assign the code(s) consistent with the appropriate guidelines. The INC will be notified of the request and subsequent assignment.

5.1.2 If the request is for a code for a country the administrator will refer to Section 10 for instructions on how to assign the code. The administrator may reserve an NPA code(s) for a country for a period of 12 months under the following circumstances: a) an existing NANP country (or on behalf of a Territory, Commonwealth or Possession) has requested or intends to request the assignment of an NPA code, or b) a country outside the NANP has requested to be included in the NANP and assigned an NPA. The reservation is subject to review upon a request for assignment of the reserved code. The INC will be notified of the reservation and a request for assignment.

5.1.3 If the request is for a code other than specified in Section 5.1.1 or 5.1.2, (i.e., new ERC or GPC) the administrator shall prepare a new issue to be introduced at the next scheduled INC. The administrator, in preparing the issue statement, shall ensure that all criteria for assignment has been met (see Sections 12 and 13).

5.2Respond in writing of the disposition within 30 working days from receipt of the assignment request form (see Part 2 of the "NPA Code Assignment" forms). There are four possible dispositions: assigned, denied, requires further information, or referred to INC.

The response will include one of the following:

a)When assigned: the NPA code assigned.

b)When denied: the reason(s) for denial and instructions on how and where to make an appeal of the decision.

c)Requires additional information: the specific additional information required.

d)Referred to INC: the reason the request was referred to INC for further action.

5.3If the code request is approved in accordance with Section 5.1.1 for geographic relief or supplementary reserved codes, the administrator will issue a Planning Letter (PL) for industry notification of the assignment. The PL will serve to notify the Telcordia® Routing Administration (TRA) of the assigned NPA code for publication in the Telcordia® LERG™ Routing Guide.

5.4In addition, if the INC has made an assignment of either an ERC or a General Purpose Code (other than as assigned per Section 10.0) the Administrator will publish notification (PL) to the industry of such assignment no later than 60 days following the assignment of the code.

5.5Notify INC if the ERC or General Purpose Code is not activated by the INC established activation date. INC will review and determine the disposition.

5.6Maintain records on NPAcode assignments and update NPA resource availability.

5.7Maintain a list of the reservedSpecific Geographic NPA Relief Codes and, in coordination with the individual geographic NPA code Central Office Code Administrators, update this list per the results of the semi-annual NRUF,and provide periodic reports to INC (see Section 5.9).

5.8Monitor the rate and level of NPA code assignments, predict the potential for exhaust, and report findings on an annual basis or as required to the industry (see Section 6.0).

5.9Provide a report on the current status of NPA assignments to the INC on a quarterly basis.

5.10Provide copies of the "NPA Allocation Plan and Assignment Guidelines" when requested by applicants, including timely notification of changes. Provide an Internet web site address where the latest approved version of the NPA Allocation Plan and Assignment Guidelines may be obtained.

6.0NPA CODE CONSERVATION AND PLANNING

Assignment of NPA codes is undertaken with the following objectives: