VoIP: Numbers

Number Portability

"Washington, D.C. - The right of consumers to keep the same, familiar phone number when switching to a new telephone company was expanded today by the Federal Communications Commission , in an Order that will further ensure consumers' opportunity to choose a telephone service provider based on quality, price and service.

"The FCC made clear that the obligation to provide local number portability extends to interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol providers and the telecommunications carriers that obtain numbers for them. This action was, in part, a response to numerous complaints by consumers about their inability to port numbers to or from interconnected VoIP providers. The FCC also initiated a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking comment on additional VoIP numbering issues.

"The FCC also clarified in its Order that telephone companies may not obstruct or delay number porting by demanding excess information from the customer's new provider, and specifically concluded that LNP validation for a simple number port should be based on no more than four fields: (1) 10-digit telephone number; (2) customer account number; (3) 5-digit zip code; and (4) pass code, if applicable. In its Notice, the FCC also tentatively concluded that it should require the industry to complete simple ports in 48 hours.

"Action by the Commission, October 31, 2007, by Report and Order, Declaratory Ruling, Order on Remand, and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FCC 07-188). Chairman Martin, Commissioners Copps, Tate and McDowell with Commissioner Adelstein approving in part and concurring in part. Separate statements issued by Chairman Martin, Commissioners Copps, Adelstein, Tate and McDowell. Docket Nos.: 07-243, 07-244, 04-36, 95-116, 99-200 Wireline Competition Bureau Staff Contact: Melissa Kirkel at 202-418-7958.

10/31/07
FCC Expands Local Number Portability to VoIP.
News Release: Word | Acrobat
Martin Statement: Word | Acrobat
Copps Statement: Word | Acrobat
Adelstein Statement: Word | Acrobat
Tate Statement: Word | Acrobat
McDowell Statement: Word | Acrobat

Published Fed Reg Vol 73 No 35 p 9463 (Feb. 21, 2008)

"The Federal Communications Commission adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking comment on whether the Commission should extend local number portability (LNP) requirements and numbering related rules, including compliance with N11 code assignments, to interconnected voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) providers, and whether the Commission should adopt rules specifying the length of porting intervals or other details of the porting process"

"Through this Notice, the Commission considers whether there are additional number administration requirements that the Commission should adopt to benefit customers of telecommunications and interconnected VoIP services. First, the Commission seeks comment on whether it should act to extend other numbering-related obligations to interconnected VoIP providers. Second, the Commission seeks comment on whether it should adopt specific rules regarding the LNP validation process and porting interval lengths."

Fed Reg Vol. 73 No. 35 p 9507 (Feb. 21, 2008)

NENA-VON Coalition Agreement: In December 2003, NENA, the VON Coalition and a number of major companies involved in providing voice-over-IP equipment or services agreed on a set of action items:

• For service to customers using phones that have the functionality and appearance of conventional telephones, 9-1-1 emergency services access will be provided (at least routing to a Public Safety Access Point (PSAP) 10-digit number) within a reasonable time (three to six months), and prior to that time inform customers of the lack of such access.
• When a communications provider begins selling in a particular area, it should discuss with the local PSAPs or their coordinator the approach to providing access. This obligation does not apply to any “roaming” by customers.
• Support for current NENA and industry work towards an interim solution that includes (a) delivery of 9-1-1 call through the existing 9-1-1 network, (b) providing callback number to the PSAP, and (c) in some cases, initial location information.
• Support for current NENA and industry work towards long-term solutions that include (a) delivery of 9-1-1 calls to the proper PSAP, (b) providing callback number/ recontact information to the PSAP, (c) providing location of caller; and (d) PSAPs having direct IP connectivity.
• Support for an administrative approach to maintaining funding of 9-1-1 resources at a level equivalent to those generated by current or evolving funding processes.
• Development of consumer education projects involving various industry participants and NENA public education committee members to create suggested materials so that consumers are fully aware of 9-1-1 capabilities and issues.

Source: Vermont Telecommunications Plan 2004 p 8-36

NENA VoIP Packet Committee

North American Numbering Council

• NENA VoIP Agreement, NENA 3/18/2004
• What's in a number? (telephony numbering exhaustion issue), CNET 1/27/03
• Web Calling Roils the Telecom World, NYT 12/16/02
• VOIP UNDER ATTACK (LECs claims that IPT leads to number exhaustion) Pulver 11/15/02
• VoIP Numbering Issues prepared by Bell South, Qwest and Verizon
• ATIS Industry Numbering Committee
• North American Numbering Plan Administration
• North American Numbering Council
• North American Numbering Council Chair | Reports
• Vonage Presentation Jan 22, 2003

2/1/05 Administration of the North American Numbering Plan. Order: Word | Acrobat
Abernathy Statement: Word | Acrobat
Copps Statement: Word | Acrobat
Adelstein Statement: Word | Acrobat

Public Notice

See Numbering Info