NANPA Planning Letter (PL) Number 407 -- NPA 855 Implementation Opening 10/1/10

The Wireline Competition Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently authorized opening of the 855 toll free code effective 12:00 p.m., Eastern Time, 10/1/10. PL 407 provides a synopsis of activity leading to this decision, which we’ve highlighted below:

• 11/29/99 - The Industry Numbering Committee (INC) directed that 866 and 855 NPA codes would be assigned to supplement the existing toll free service NPAs (800, 888 and 877). In July 2000, the 866 NPA code went into service, with 855 NPA implementation deferred.
• 3/10/10 - Database Service Management, Inc. (DSMI), FCC’s designated administrator for toll free numbers, requested approval to release the 855 NPA no later than 4Q2011 based upon a utilization forecast.
• 5/27/10 - The Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS), on behalf of the SMS/800 Number Administration Committee (SNAC), indicated toll free number exhaust may occur by 1/2011 if not before. As such, ATIS suggested industry notification of the new 855 NPA to ensure efficient implementation.
• 6/25/10 - Based the most current analysis (indicating exhaust by 11/21/10), the FCC authorized DMSI to open the 855 toll free NPA on 10/1/10.

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