V. Assignment of Proceeding
Michael R. Peevey is the Assigned Commissioner and Thomas R. Pulsifer is the assigned ALJ in this proceeding.
1. Pursuant to FCC requirements, this Commission previously adopted a back-up plan in D.00-09-073 to implement a geographic split of the 310 area code to be initiated at a subsequent point in time once it was determined that code exhaust was imminent.
2. Joint Petitioners presented updated information regarding the successful implementation of overlays in other regions of the nation over recent years.
3. Based upon reevaluation of the merits of the split versus overlay options, taking into consideration more recent experience with overlays in other states, it is found that an overlay would result in fewer overall adverse impacts when compared with a geographic split of the 310 area code.
4. Good cause has been shown to modify D.00-09-073 to replace the geographic split with an overlay as the adopted form of relief.
5. A new area code is needed within the next year in view of pending exhaustion of numbering resources in the 310 area code.
6. The Commission is required under FCC rules to open a new area code where necessary to avoid code exhaustion and denial of numbering resources necessary for competitive service.
7. The Commission has undertaken reasonable measures to ensure that numbering resources in the 310 area code are being utilized as efficiently as possible.
8. The Commission has already considered an ALJ's Draft Decision as to whether this Commission has the authority to impose or should impose guidelines regarding the six-month inventory level of number blocks that carriers may retain, and declined to adopt any such guidelines.
9. D.96-12-086 required mandatory 1+10-digit dialing within the region subject to an overlay to prevent an anticompetitive dialing disparity between customers of competing carriers who lacked equivalent access to NXX codes in the old NPA.
10. Although there is no area code change for existing numbers with an overlay, customers still need a transitional period to become familiar with mandatory 1+10-digit dialing and the notion of two area codes within a single geographic area.
11. In the context of an overlay, "permissive" dialing has reference to 1+10-digit dialing, and means that customers are permitted to dial 1+10-digits for calls within the same area code, but are not required to do so.
12. Before the permissive dialing period can begin, network preparation and initial customer notification must be completed.
13. A 120-day network preparation period, to begin upon the effective date of this order, will provide carriers with adequate time to make the required modifications to the network to begin permissive dialing when necessary.
14. A 90-day initial customer notification period, to begin with the effective date of this order, will provide carriers adequate time to work with the Commission to prepare and provide customers with the initial notification of dates for the permissive and mandatory dialing periods, as well as other necessary information regarding the overlay.
15. A seven-month permissive dialing period will provide the necessary time for the PEP efforts to be developed, executed, and disseminated, so that customers may become acquainted with the new requirements associated with the overlay before new prefix codes in the 424 overlay area code become available to carriers and their customers.
16. D.96-12-086 required that a customer education program be instituted at least 12 months before an overlay would take effect explaining the new mandatory 1+10-digit dialing requirements and the overlay plan to the public.
17. D.96-12-086 directed that, upon activation of the overlay area code, customers who dial seven digits will hear an instructional recording informing them of the 1+10-digit dialing requirement.
18. D.96-12-086 identified certain minimum elements to be included in the customer education plan, including an explanation why mandatory 1+10-digit dialing is necessary, and assurance that the change in their dialing patterns will not affect the rates charged for calls.
19. As the 310 NPA faces further potential shrinkage with a geographic split, the drawing of boundaries that minimize the splitting of local communities becomes increasingly difficult.
20. The overlay avoids the need for existing customers to change their telephone number area code for existing lines.
21. A geographic split creates economic hardships particularly on affected businesses which must notify customers of area code changes, and change business cards, letterheads, advertisements, etc.
22. With an overlay, geographic boundaries no longer define a single NPA, thereby eliminating the advantage of having geographically-defined NPA boundaries as a means of identifying and unifying communities of interest.
23. Although customers in the 310 NPA are already accustomed to dialing 10-digits for a significant portion of their calls, the overlay will still require them to learn that calls within the same area code also require 10-digit dialing.
24. While both the overlay and geographic split have certain adverse impacts, the overlay will have less overall adverse impacts than either of the geographic split alternatives proposed for the 310 NPA.
1. The Petition to Modify D.00-09-073, filed by the Joint Parties, should be granted, in part, to replace the geographic split with an all-services overlay to the 310 area code in accordance with the schedule adopted below.
2. Joint Parties have not shown why a "trigger" set at 6 NXX codes would produce a more efficient or coherent implementation approach as opposed simply to setting an implementation schedule as ordered below.
3. Because the FCC has not delegated authority to this Commission to impose carrier inventory rules, there is no basis to delay implementation of necessary area code relief in the 310 area in order for this Commission first to develop carrier inventory guidelines.
4. The adoption of the proposed overlay back-up plan for the 310 NPA provides a better overall solution than does a geographic split in terms of minimizing impacts on customers.
5. An overlay plan should be approved in accordance with the schedule and conditions adopted in the order below.
6. A PEP to acquaint customers with mandatory 10-digit dialing and the overlay, should be required as a condition of approving the overlay, consistent with D.96-12-086.
7. The PEP should incorporate, at a minimum, the requirements set forth in Appendix A, and be consistent with the previously authorized PEP for the 310 and 408 area code overlays.
8. Once permissive 1+10-digit dialing is in place, customers should be encouraged to voluntarily dial 10-digits for calls within their area code as part of the education program during the year leading up to the overlay.
9. The recorded instructional announcement alerting customers who dial seven digits to dial 10-digits should begin on, or no later than, July 26, 2006, and shall be continued until further notice by all telecommunications carriers following the date the 310 NPA overlay area code is opened. The instructional announcement should also be instituted on all 424 codes as they are opened and continue until further notice.
10. The public education plan should focus attention on the education of all classes of customers including children, the elderly, the disabled, as well as the various ethnic groups in the current 310 NPA.
11. The industry should give priority to notifying entities which will need to reprogram equipment as a result of the change to mandatory 10-digit dialing.
12. Further consideration of dialing pattern changes relating to the "1+" prefix requirement for 10-digit dialing should be addressed through the Petition for Modification of D.96-12-086 submitted on August 3, 2005.
IT IS ORDERED that:
1. The Petition to Modify Decision 00-09-073, filed by the Joint Parties identified above, is hereby granted, in part, in accordance with the terms adopted below.
2. The previously adopted back-up plan known as Alternative 1A, the geographic split of the 310 Number Plan Area, is hereby replaced with an all-services overlay, in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth below, consistent with Federal Communications Commission requirements.
3. The schedule set forth below is adopted for the overlay.
4. Carriers shall complete any network preparation (including but not limited to network translations, operational support system modifications and E-911 configurations) necessary to implement the overlay within 120 days of the effective date of this order.
5. Effective with the date of this order, the North American Numbering Plan Administrator is hereby authorized and directed to notify code holders in the 310 area code to proceed with implementation of the all-services overlay adopted in this order.
6. No later than 90 days after the effective date of this order, carriers serving in the 310 area code shall provide their customers with initial notice of the schedule for permissive and mandatory dialing associated with implementation of the all-services overlay adopted in this order.
7. Permissive 1+10-digit dialing shall officially begin on December 31, 2005, after the effective date of this order, and shall continue for a period of seven months thereafter.
8. Mandatory 1+10-digit dialing shall begin on July 26, 2006.
9. The 424 overlay area code shall be opened effective August 26, 2006, and new numbers shall begin to be assigned effective on or after that date.
10. A Public Education Plan (PEP) shall be required as a condition of approval of the overlay. The PEP shall at a minimum consist of the measures as set forth in Appendix A of this order, and shall incorporate at a minimum the scope of activities and standards previously required for the 310 and 408 area code overlay PEPs. PEP outreach efforts shall specifically target key governmental agencies and community leaders, chambers of commerce, major airports, hospitals, alarm providers, pay telephone providers and the state coordinator for E-911. The PEP shall also include special outreach to senior citizens, the disabled, and ethnic communities. The PEP shall be conducted to achieve a 70% public awareness level.
11. A PEP Task Force shall be formed comprised of members of Commission staff and at least one representative from each entity holding number resources in the 310 area code to administer the PEP in accordance with the requirements of this order.
12. The PEP Task Force shall develop a reasonable means of delineating the division of responsibility for the above-referenced activities so that adequate tracking and compliance can be assured.
13. The Commission's Director of the Telecommunications Division shall maintain general oversight of the PEP Task Force and shall require periodic reporting of the status of PEP activities, as deemed warranted.
14. Funding for the joint tasks of the PEP shall be allocated among carriers in proportion to the relative percentage of thousand-blocks that they hold in the 310 area code as of the effective date of this order.
15. A preliminary budget shall be designated for the 310 PEP of $340,000 based upon the allocation to activities as authorized in the 408 overlay PEP. Of this total amount, a minimum of $120,000 shall be allotted to cover mass media advertising, including radio and television, and a minimum of $10,000 shall be allotted for collateral materials and distribution. Because the budgeted PEP amounts were adopted in 1999, they do not reflect any price level changes attributable to the effects of inflation. Accordingly, we shall authorize subsequent increases in the preliminary budget to reflect the effects of inflation since 1999.
16. The Commission's Director of Information and Management Service Division shall have responsibility for approving any subsequent 310 PEP budget adjustments.
17. The PEP Task Force shall arrange for adequate accounting of total PEP costs incurred, determination of contributions due from each carrier based on their block holdings, and follow up for collections and disbursements of PEP fund among carriers.
18. The PEP Task Force membership shall include representation from the 310 area code community in order to provide for input from local community interests including special needs groups such as senior citizens or the disabled. The Commission staff coordinator of the PEP Task Force shall take appropriate steps to obtain representation in this regard. The schedule for the PEP shall not be delayed, however, due to the time involved in obtaining community representation for the PEP Task Force.
This order is effective today.
Dated August 25, 2005, at San Francisco, California.
MICHAEL R. PEEVEY
President
GEOFFREY F. BROWN
SUSAN P. KENNEDY
DIAN M. GRUENEICH
JOHN A. BOHN
Commissioners
Timeframe |
Activity |
Description |
Audience |
Shared or Individual Carrier Effort |
Posted by 4/11/04 per ALJ Ruling |
Information |
Update company websites to include 310 Public Meeting Notice. |
All telecom users |
Individual |
TBD |
Petition for Modification Granted |
|||
Approximately one week of Issuance of Order |
Administration |
Formation of PEP Committee - each carrier to designate a committee representative |
n/a |
Commission Staff and Carrier Representatives |
After Issuance of Order |
Information |
As Directories are published add a Banner to alert the consumers of 10-digit dialing in the 310 Area Code |
All telecom users |
Individual |
Approximately 30 days after Issuance of Order |
Information |
Distribute information internally to be used as a tool by customer service representatives in order to answer customer inquiries. |
Service Representatives |
Individual |
Periodically |
Information |
Notify the California Relay Service to send messages to alert their customers to the 10-digit dialing in the 310 Area Code |
Hearing Impaired |
Individual |
TBD |
Trigger Date |
|||
Approximately one week after Trigger Date |
News Release |
Telecommunication industry to issue release which describes the Los Angeles 310 Area Code relief plan. (distribute within 310 Area including chambers of commerce and local governmental agencies) |
All telecom users |
Shared |
Approximately 30 days after Trigger Date |
Information |
Telecommunications industry to send information package to Chambers of Commerce, city councils, LAX, and public safety organizations (e.g., police, sheriff and fire) throughout the 310 Area. |
Select organizations and associations |
Shared |
Approximately 60 days prior to permissive dialing |
Information |
Customer Notification No. 1: Announce the new area code plan. Include information about 10-digit dialing and indicate affected areas. |
Resident & Business Customers |
Individual |
Approximately 60 days prior to permissive dialing |
Information |
Notification to pre-paid customers. |
Wireless prepaid Customers |
Individual |
Approximately 60 days prior to permissive dialing |
Information |
Provide information to key government agencies, 911 and alarm-service providers by mail, phone or visit. |
Select business segments |
Shared |
Approximately 60 days prior to permissive dialing |
Information |
Contact key community leaders, legislators, state/local government contacts by letter, phone or visit. |
Key Leaders |
Shared |
Approximately 60 days prior to permissive dialing |
Information |
Provide targeted information to advocacy groups (seniors, consumer panels, activist organizations, schools, etc.) by letter, phone or visit |
Advocacy groups & consumer groups |
Shared |
Approximately 30 days prior to permissive dialing |
Information |
Begin the process for developing recorded announcements required for Mandatory Dialing |
Residence and Business customers |
Individual |
Approximately 30 days prior to permissive dialing |
Public Appearances |
Offer speeches or appearances to Chambers of Commerce, economic development organizations, service clubs, and other business organizations. |
Select organizations and associations |
Shared (Assuming use of Industry Spokesperson(s)) |
Approximately 30 days prior to permissive dialing |
Public Appearances |
Telecommunications industry to schedule appearances on local radio or TV Talk shows. |
All Telecom users |
Shared (Assuming use of Industry Spokesperson(s)) |
Approximately five to ten days prior to permissive dialing |
Information |
Telecommunications industry to issue new release to Los Angeles media regarding approach of "transitional" dialing period. |
All telecom users (310 Area Code Area) |
Shared |
120 days after Trigger Date |
Permissive Dialing Begins |
|||
Approximately 30 days prior to mandatory dialing |
Information |
Customer Notification No.2 |
Residence & Business customers |
Individual |
Approximately 15 days prior to mandatory dialing |
Public Appearances |
Telecommunications industry to schedule appearances on local radio or TV Talk shows. |
All telecom users |
Shared (Assuming use of Industry Spokesperson(s)) |
Approximately 15 days prior to mandatory dialing |
Public Appearances |
Offer speeches or appearances to Chambers of Commerce, economic development organizations, service clubs, and other business organizations. |
Select organizations and associations |
Shared (Assuming use of Industry Spokesperson(s)) |
Approximately five days before mandatory dialing begins |
News Release |
Telecommunications industry to issue release to media regarding the start of mandatory dialing |
All telecom users (within the 310 NPA and adjacent NPA areas) |
Shared |
270 Days After Trigger Date |
Mandatory Dialing |
(END OF APPENDIX A)
APPENDIX B
Status of Remaining Number Blocks in 310 Area Code
(By Rate Center)
|
Rate Center |
Number of Blocks Available |
Avalon Beverly Hills Compton: Compton DA Compton: Gardena DA Culver City El Segundo Hawthorne Inglewood Lomita Malibu Redondo San Pedro Santa Monica: Mar Vista DA Santa Monica: Santa Monica DA Torrance West Los Angeles Total |
6 28 27 26 11 44 2 9 2 7 23 1 54 26 0 1 267 |
(END OF APPENDIX B)
