FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISION (FCC) UPDATES

Porting Period Shortened
In a May 13, 2009, Report and Order (R&O) issued by the FCC, the "porting interval for simple wireline and simple intermodal port requests" was modified from four-days to one business day. So, service providers (wireline, wireless and certain Voice over Internet Protocol companies) will now be required to process customer requested transfers of existing phone numbers from one provider to another within one business day.

Now, what is "simple"? The FCC defines "simple ports as those ports that: (1) do not involve unbundled network elements; (2) involve an account only for a single line; (3) do not include complex switch translations (e.g., Centrex, ISDN, AIN services, remote call forwarding, or multiple services on the loop); and (4) do not include a reseller. This may sound a little confusing to consumers – and, in fact, Michael Copps, FCC Acting Chairman, acknowledges certain "non-simple ports look no different to consumers than simple ports, yet the shortened interval adopted in this Order will not apply". So, there will be some fine-tuning still to come with regard to porting processes and simple/non-simple ports.

From four to one. Recognizing this shortened porting period may necessitate some service providers to modify processes and functionality in order to comply, the North American Numbering Council (NANC) has been directed to develop new "local number portability process flows" in 90 days. Once NANC’s new process flows are complete, large providers will have nine months to comply (small carriers will have 15 months).

The full Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking may be viewed at: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-09-41A1.pdf

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Interconnection VoIP Notification Requirements
In a second May 13, 2009, R&O, the FCC also required interconnected VoIP service providers ("those whose customers can place calls to and receive calls from the public telephone network, rather than solely over the Internet") to provide customers written notice prior discontinuation, reduction or impairment of service. This puts VoIP carriers under the same notification requirements as conventional voice service providers.

The full Report and Order may be viewed at: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-09-40A1.pdf

VoIP: The Country?
Country Code 883 was assigned for global use for Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) in late 2008, a development that went relatively un-noticed in non-VoIP arenas. The ITU issued the country code at the request of Voxbone, a Brussels, Belgium-based provider of international inbound numbers and VoIP transport.

Unlike country codes that are associated with specific countries, (i.e., +44 for the UK or +52 for Mexico) +883 numbers are global, and they move with you from place to place, so they’re not associated with any specific country. Voxbone markets the numbers as iNum, and each phone number assigned in country code 883 will be 12 digits, which means that about 10 million numbers have been allocated to Voxbone for this service. The company estimates that all 10 million of those numbers will be assigned to its customers by the end of 2009.

Currently, Voxbone acts as a wholesaler, with VoIP-originated calls placed to +883 numbers passed through the company’s routers and delivered to the appropriate VoIP service provider. Callers on the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) must dial a Voxbone access number, and then the +883 number they are calling in order to reach a subscriber in country code 883. Voxbone hopes to eventually negotiate agreements for direct interconnection with the PSTN.
Will country code +883 be widely accepted? Voxbone expects the service to be a low-cost, barrier-free way to connect callers worldwide. But in places like Germany where separate, non-geographic area codes within the country exist, calls to those numbers typically cost more than calls to geographically-based numbers. There may not be much incentive for traditional carriers to deliver calls to the “virtual” country code at a low cost. And the need to dial an access number before the subscriber phone number may be a hindrance to acceptance if direct interconnection to the PSTN is not achieved.

What do you think? We’d like to hear from you! Please share your comments regarding the effect of country code +883 at your company or in the industry as a whole. Leave your comments here!

Alabama Overlay Announced
An all services overlay was recently approved by Alabama’s Public Service Commission in an effort to provide relief for the 256 NPA. The new 938 NPA will cover the same communities now served by the 256 NPA, including Anniston, Florence, Gadsden and Huntsville.

The effective date for the 938 NPA is 7/10/10; however, transitioning residents to 10-digit dialing will begin much sooner. A “permissive dialing period” will be in effect from 11/7/09 through 6/5/10, during which subscribers may use either 7- or 10-digits when making calls within the 256 NPA. At the conclusion of the permissive period, shortly before activation of the 938 NPA, 10-digit dialing will be mandatory for the overlay area.

Just as customers are encouraged to begin 10-digit dialing, it is highly recommended that carriers prepare their switches to begin sending 10-digits prior to the mandatory dialing deadline of 6/5/10 as well. Additionally, international and domestic service providers should verify their networks have the 938 NPA activated prior to its effective date of 7/10/10.

Broadening Broadband

In order to meet the Congress imposed deadline of February 2010, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has begun the process of developing a national broadband plan. As part of the evaluation process in determining how to best bring high-speed Internet service nationwide, in early April, acting FCC Chairman Michael J. Copps solicited public and industry input regarding its availability, quality and affordability. Copps indicated methods used to develop this plan will be "open, inclusive, out-reaching and data-hungry".

As the plan moves forward, the FCC is certain to face noteworthy debate regarding inclusion of various policies. In fact, telecom companies and public interest groups have already shared their input and concerns. Issues brought forward thus far include regulating the fees large telecom operators may apply for utilization of parts of their networks; and, requests to redirect a $7 billion federal rural phone subsidy to broadband.

Other areas of FCC focus, Copps indicated would be strategy for identifying highest-need areas - as well as determining speed parameters - for high-speed Internet. Another issue for assessment will be urban and rural high-speed Internet demand differentials.

Senior counsel for Consumers Union, a public advocacy group, Chris Murray summarized the process by saying the FCC plan will review existing policies and determine if and how they may be modified to improve broadband availability and appeal. Murray stated "The proper goal of the program is filling holes in our national broadband strategy, not creating broadband networks from the ground up."

With the FCC plan deadline of February 2010, there is concern that much of the $7.2 million in government stimulus funds for broadband development will be claimed by Internet providers before plan completion; and, therefore without much agency influence, clear guidelines or measure of project needs. The hope is that, with senses heightened to this possibility, extra care and consideration will be taken with any monies designated prior to the FCC’s final plan.

Alabama Deregulation

The Alabama Senate voted 19-8 to pass legislation to deregulate all home and business phone services giving landline rates the same standing as cell and Internet phone services. Should this legislation become law, the Alabama Public Service will no longer oversee rates and AT&T and other local phone companies will be able to set rates for local service as they wish.

While this bill positions Alabama landline phone service providers to better compete with the already deregulated cell and Internet phone providers, it would also result in less protection for consumers against huge rate hikes. Of course, the next step for this piece of legislation is to make it through the House – and then be signed by Alabama’s governor.

Tele-Tech Talk

We’ve changed! And, if we do say so ourselves, we’re a bit easier on the eye. That’s right, we’ve released our new website featuring easier navigation and an extremely informative yet straightforward content design. We’ve added a crisp functionality to the site with all the same information we’ve always provided.

With a clean tabbed format, it’s easy to peruse the site features; then, identify and zero in on exactly what you’re looking for. So, from our Home page, you move about the site by selecting tabs to take you to detailed information about Products, Why Tele-Tech, Contact and Free Resources. In addition to the new look and functionality of the site, a couple of options worth highlighting are:

• Live Chat -- this added feature makes it easier to access us and get the information you need! This option is available on each website page, and also as one of the ways to Tell Tele-Tech on the Contact tab.
• Kim’s Telecom Blog – Join in the conversation! Let us know what you think about a particular article, topic or product highlight. Or, you tell us what telecom issues you want to discuss – what’s top of mind for you?!
• Webinars – Select this option to take a look at upcoming events. Also, we’ll list past webinars and provide links to allow access to the slides and/or audio so you may review at your leisure.

So why did we do all of this? It’s really quite simple! We wanted to enhance the customer experience when visiting Tele-Tech’s website. In a nutshell, we wanted to brag without boring! Visit when you can at www.telecomdb.com and let us know what you think!

Telecom News

Two reports providing significant information regarding utilization of telephone number resources were released in March.

On March 31st, the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA), Neustar, released the NANPA 2008 Annual Report. The document includes both historical and forward-looking information on the assignment of NPA codes and central office codes. Key data include:

• A total of three new NPAs were introduced in 2008: NPAs 581 and 587 went into effect as overlays on September 19th in Quebec and Alberta, respectively; and NPA 657 went into effect in California as an overlay on September 23rd.
• Nine NPAs are currently scheduled for activation. Those with 2009 in service dates include: NPAs 385 (UT), 442 (CA), 681 (WV), and 747 (CA); with, NPAs 343 (Ontario), 364 (KY), 458 (OR), and 534 (WI) each having 2010 in service dates.
• 2,946 Central Office Codes (COCs) were assigned in 2008, and 10,590 COC changes were made to code assignment information, such as the Operating Company Number (OCN) or switch.
• 93 new Feature Group D Carrier Identification Codes (FG D CICs) were assigned in 2008, and 97 FG D CICs that were not in service or assigned to companies no longer in business were reclaimed/returned.
• 132 of the 328 currently assigned geographic NPAs are projected to exhaust in the next 10 years.

The NANPA Annual Report may be downloaded from http://nanpa.com/reports/reports_annual.html.

Also released in March was the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC’s) latest Numbering Resource Utilization in the United States report. This 51-page report is an overview of the data and ongoing procedures used to determine if the industry is making efficient use of limited numbering resources. A few of the report findings are:

• Utilization by Carrier Type – Over 1.3 billion telephone numbers are spread among reporting carriers, with 652 million assigned to customers, around 619 million available, and about 84 million used for administrative and other purposes. A breakdown of utilization stats by carrier type (6/30/08) is:
• ..... 48.1% = (Of all) telephone numbers were assigned to end users.
• ..... 50.3% (down from 50.7% 6 months prior) = Overall utilization rate of Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers (LECs) for the numbers they’ve been assigned.
• ..... 65.3% (up from 65.0%) = Overall utilization rate of Cellular/PCS Carriers for the numbers they’ve been assigned.
• ..... 30.4% (up from 26.9%) = Overall utilization rate for Competitive LECs for the numbers they’ve been assigned.
• Smaller Block Pooling Successful in Conserving Numbering Resources – Thousands-block pooling is available in areas with the most demand for additional numbering resources. This practice saved about 355 million phone numbers from being assigned unnecessarily.
• Millions of Telephone Numbers Returned for Reassignment– The FCC’s Numbering Resource Optimization (NRO) Order requires that carriers return large quantities of telephone numbers they do not need to the NANPA in order to avail them for more immediate use needs. During 2008, the telephone numbers returned included 0.96 million in second quarter, rising to 1.49 million numbers in third quarter.
• Customers Moving Millions of Telephone Numbers to New Carriers – Since 2007, more than 21 million subscribers have taken their wireline numbers with them when switching to another wireline carrier. During the same time period, a little over 1 million subscribers have ported their wireline telephone number to a wireless carrier for use on their wireless device. Wireless customers moved more than 18 million telephone numbers to other wireless carriers as they switch service providers, and only 62,000 wireless subscribers have moved their number to a wireline carrier.
• Most Utilized Area Codes in the United States –New York’s area code 646 (which overlays New York City’s area code 212) is the most utilized, with 77.0% of numbers assigned to customers. Arizona’s area code 480 is next, with 75.3% of numbers assigned to customers.

The full FCC Report may be downloaded from http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-289173A1.pdf.