FCC Releases Annual Wireless Competition Report

The FCC on June 27 released its Fifteenth Report to Congress. The Communications Act mandates the FCC conduct an analysis of competition in the mobile wireless industry. This report analyzes data from 2009 and 2010 but reaches no conclusion about the state of competition.

2009 findings include:

• The mobile wireless industry generated $154.7 billion in total service revenues.
• Annual voice revenues declined for the first time by 4%.
• Data revenues increased 28%.
• Consumer prices did not decline for the first time since 1997.
• The mobile wireless industry continues to consolidate.

The report also ranks the largest service providers in the country with details on revenue and number of subscribers. Read the full report at www.fcc.com.

NANPA Planning Letter (PL) Number 422 – North Carolina – NPA 984 to Overlay NPA 919

The North Carolina Utilities Commission will again begin implementing new area code 984 and mandatory 10-digit dialing, a process the NCUC deferred in 2001.

The implementation timeline is as follows:

• 10/01/2011 – Permissive 10-digit dialing begins.
• 10/30/2011 – Earliest date central office codes in new NPA can be ordered.
• 03/31/2012 – Permissive dialing ends and mandatory 10-digit dialing begins.
• 04/30/2012 – New 984 NPA becomes effective.

Network testing will run January 2012 through November 2012. The test number and rate center map can be found at www.nanpa.com.

Happy birthday KFR Services!

This weekend marks 10 years since Tele-Tech Services was incorporated in South Carolina as KFR Services. 

KFR’s diverse portfolio includes America’s Great Loop Cruisers Association, a member organization for boaters interested in the 6,000 mile Great Loop boat trip; to Atlantic Business Continuity Services, a consulting service providing continuity and disaster planning to businesses and cities.

Tele-Tech Services started it all in 1975 and today continues to provide innovative, money-saving database solutions for the telecommunications industry. 

NANPA notification of jeopardy condition removal – California

The California Public Utilities Commission has asked NANPA to remove area code jeopardy status and prefix rationing for the following numbers:  209, 323, 415, 530, 562, 619, 650, 707, 805, 916, 925 and 949.

The CPUC determined that most of the area codes would not be exhausted for another six to 23 years; and continued set aside would create unnecessary complications for numbering management.

The notice is effective immediately.

For more information, go to www.nanpa.com.

FCC opens e-filing for all carriers

The FCC on Thursday, June 9, approved online tariff filing for competitive local providers and other nondominant carriers. In the past, only dominant local carriers were allowed to use the Electronic Tariff Filing System (ETFS). Therefore, CLEC’s submitted hundreds of filings each year by paper.

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski says the decision will not only streamline efficiencies, “it will also save a lot of trees.”

Once the new rule goes into effect, carriers have 60 days to make their first electronic filing. The new rule will likely become effective later this year.

For more information, go to www.fcc.gov.

NANPA Planning Letter (PL) Number 419 – Manitoba, Canada – NPA 431 to Overlay NPA 204

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRT ) directed that relief for Manitoba area code 204 be provided with an overlay of new area code 431. Communities in the province are Brandon, Dauphin, Portage La Prairie, Selkirk, Steinbach Thompson, Winkler and Winnipeg.

The implementation timeline is as follows:

• 7/29/2012 – Calls dialed with 7-digits will receive an announcement advising the number dialed must be preceded by its area code and that their call will now be connected.
• 11/03/2012 – Mandatory 10-digit dialing begins. Calls dialed with 7-digits will connect to a similar announcement as above, however, the call will not be connected. Instead, the caller will be instructed to redial using the area code. This announcement will remain until replaced by a “standard network announcement” beginning in February.

Network testing for all international and domestic carriers begins 4/30/2012. A complete list of test numbers, along with a detailed map showing affected areas can be found at www.nanpa.com.

NANPA Planning Letter (PL) Number 420 – Southern Ontario, Canada – NPA 365 to Overlay NPA 289/905

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunication Commission (CRTC) directed that relief for Ontario area codes 289/905 be provided through distributed overlay of new area code 365. Affected communities are Ajax-Pickering, Brampton Burlington, Hamilton, Markham, Milton, Mississauga, Oakville, Oshawa, Richmond Hill, St. Catharines and Whitby.

The implementation timeline is as follows:

• 1/07/2013 – Network testing begins.
• 3/25/2013 – The new 365 NPA is introduced. It will not change dialing plans as all local calls will continue to be dialed with 10 digits..

A complete list of test numbers, along with a detailed map showing affected areas can be found at www.nanpa.com.

NECA Expo – September 11-15 – Chicago

The 2011 National Exchange Carrier Association Expo will be held at the Hyatt Regency Chicago on the Riverwalk. Featured speaker is marketing and management expert Terry Brock. Session topics include access arbitrage, telecom regulation, Universal Service Fund payments and other industry related issues.

Early bird registration ends 08/01/2011. More information at www.neca.org.

NANPA Planning Letter (PL) Number 418 - Sint Maarten, Netherlands Antilles - NPA 721

The Government of St. Maarten, NA, had previously been assigned the 721 NPA to serve St. Maarten (formerly under country code 599). The 721 NPA introduction will begin with permissive dialing (where either the 599 country code or 721 NPAs will be acceptable dialing). At the conclusion of the permissive dialing period, country code 599 will continue to be used in the rest of the Netherlands Antilles; and, incorrect country code dialed calls will be routed to a recorded message for correct dialing procedures.

PL 418 outlines an updated implementation timeline as follows:

• 09/30/11 -- Permissive Dialing Starts - and - Latest Date to Activate New NPA 721
• 03/31/12 -- End of Permissive Dialing - and - Start of New NPA Mandatory Dialing
• 03/31/13 -- Earliest Date for End of Recorded Announcement

The dialing plan for the 721 NPA will be:

• Local Call Terminating to Home NPA (HNPA) (Sint Maarten) … 7-Digits
• NANP Toll Call Terminating to Foreign NPA (FNPA) … 1 + 10-Digits
• Operator Services (Including Credit Card, Collect and Third Party) Call Terminating to HNPA & FNPA … 0+ 10-Digits
• International Local Call Terminating to Saint Martin (French) … 7-Digits

International and domestic carriers should ensure network-wide activation of the new 721 NPA prior to 9/30/11. Test numbers for routing verification will be announced at a later date.

For additional information, visit www.nanpa.com.