VII. Number Pooling Requirements

As a condition of approving implementation of the 909/951 area code split, the existing 909 thousand-block number pooling shall continue in effect and apply to all numbers assigned in the 951 area code (except for paging companies) concurrent with its opening. All carriers other than paging shall be required to obtain 951 area code numbers in thousand-block increments through the number pool. Paging carriers shall be permitted to obtain full 10,000-block prefix codes subject to meeting the applicable eligibility requirements as previously established by Commission decisions.

The existing thousand-block number pool for the 909 area code shall continue in operation after the split is implemented. Continued operation of the 909 number pool will help ensure that the positive efficiency gains that have been achieved in the 909 area code will continue after the split, and that the area code will not soon be facing another claim of early exhaust of its useful life. Pursuant to the FCC's awarding the national Pooling Administrator contract, NeuStar, Inc.

will continue to act as Pooling Administrator both for the 909 and 951 area code number pools. Since federal number pooling has taken effect, the state-mandated 909/951 pools will operate pursuant to federal program rules.