December 21, 2001 PUC: 138 Docket #: R.95-04-043, I. 95-04-044

Media Contact: PUC Press Office - 415.703.1366 - news@cpuc.ca.gov

PUC AUDIT ON 909 AREA CODE FINDS NO IMMEDIATE NEED FOR AREA CODE SPLIT OR OVERLAY

The California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has issued its audit of telephone number utilization in the 909 area code, which covers portions of San Bernardino, Riverside and Los Angeles Counties. The audit is part of the PUC's efforts to make more efficient use of existing telephone numbers in order to limit the disruption to businesses and consumers resulting from new area codes.

The audit determines that as long as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) holds wireless carriers to the requirement to "pool" numbers, there is not likely to be an immediate need for a split or overlay of the 909 area code. Pooling allows telephone numbers to be assigned to carriers in groups of 1,000, rather than 10,000, which promotes efficient use of numbers.

The audit also identifies numerous problems in how carriers keep track of the use and availability of telephone numbers.

The PUC audited Numbering Resource Utilization/Forecast (NRUF) Reports and supporting data for the 909 area code submitted by Pacific Bell, Verizon California, Pac-West Telecomm, GST-Time Warner Telecom, Arch Wireless, and Verizon Wireless, to provide a basis for determining if any change to the 909 area code is needed.

The audit finds that the crucial factor determining when the 909 area code will run out of numbers is when cellular carriers will begin number pooling. In February 1999, the FCC extended the deadline until November 24, 2002 for cellular carriers to support the technology that allows number pooling. The demand for phone numbers by cellular carriers appears likely to exhaust the supply of whole prefixes in the 909 area code between 12-and-18 months from now unless cellular carriers begin participating in the number pool in November 2002, as scheduled.

The numbering needs of all carriers, including cellular carriers, can likely be met from the blocks now in the number pool for about two-to-three years if the cellular carriers begin pooling in November of 2002. Conversely, if the FCC grants the cellular carriers a further extension before they are required to pool, the PUC will need to act swiftly to split or overlay the 909 area code.

The audit identifies the need for carriers to keep better track of the use and availability of telephone numbers. The problems identified in the management practices and data reporting methodologies of telephone numbers include:

· Carriers erroneously reported 206,000 telephone numbers as unavailable;

· Carriers failed to retain historical source data used to develop their NRUF Reports;

· Carriers had lengthy data retrieval processes;

· Carrier inventory database systems displayed contradictory or incorrect telephone number status, which resulted in incorrect NRUF reporting;

· Carriers retained reserved telephone numbers for extended periods inconsistent with FCC requirements;

· Carriers did not adequately track intermediate telephone numbers.

The audit makes the following recommendations to carriers, the North American Numbering Plan Administration (NANPA), and the FCC for efficient and accurate management of numbering resources:

· Assigned Numbers - Numbers given to customers.

o Carriers need to ensure that all assigned telephone numbers are classified in compliance with the FCC's definition of assigned numbers;

o Carriers should not assume that all telephone number ranges associated with a customer are working and assigned;

o Carriers should reclassify 206,000 telephone numbers from "assigned" to "available".

· Administrative Numbers - Used by carriers to perform internal operational functions.

o Carriers should conduct a periodic internal audit to determine the status of all numbers classified as administrative;

o Carriers should make available all numbers misclassified as administrative that are not in use;

o Carriers should not tie up excessive numbers for administrative purposes, and should only classify telephone numbers that are working as Administrative.

· Reserved Numbers - Numbers held at the request of customers for their future use.

o Carriers should adhere to the current maximum number of days (180 allowed for Reserved numbers) and should maintain customer service order records or other types of supporting documentation as evidence that telephone numbers are reserved by a customer request;

o Carriers should institute appropriate procedures to control unnecessary telephone number reservations to avoid hoarding ranges of numbers.

· Intermediate Numbers - Numbers made available for use by another telecommunications carrier to provide service to a customer.

o Carriers that receive intermediate telephone numbers from other carriers should comply with FCC rules on semiannual reporting of that data. Receiving carriers should return any telephone numbers in excess of their six-month inventory needs. Failure to report should subject carriers to penalties and sanctions;

o Intermediate carriers that cease business operations should return intermediate numbers to the donating carriers.

· Accurate and Efficient Internal Data Tracking System

o Carriers should maintain accurate database systems that track the status of telephone numbers and store historical records of all NRUF reporting data for future audit purposes;

o Carriers should ensure that when a customer is permanently disconnected, the information is shared so systems can be updated simultaneously;

o Carriers should periodically reconcile their telephone number inventory systems to identify errors for corrective actions.

The audit was conducted in compliance with Administrative Law Judge's Ruling Ordering Audit of 909 Area Code Numbering Resources, dated June 14, 2001.

###