PUBLIC NOTICE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 445 12TH STREET, S.W. WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� News Media Information (202) 418-0500. DA 99-461 Internet http://www.fcc.gov Released: March 5, 1999 COMMON CARRIER BUREAU SEEKS COMMENT ON MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND ENERGY REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY TO IMPLEMENT VARIOUS AREA CODE CONSERVATION METHODS IN THE 508, 617, 781, AND 978 AREA CODES NSD File No. L-99-19 Pleading Cycle Established COMMENTS: April 5, 1999 REPLY COMMENTS: April 19, 1999 On September 28, 1998, the Federal Communications Commission ("Commission") released an order in the matter of a Petition for Declaratory Ruling and Request for Expedited Action on the July 15, 1997 Order of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission Regarding Area Codes 412, 610, 215, and 717, and Implementation of the Local Competition Provisions of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Memorandum Opinion and Order and Order on Reconsideration, FCC 98- 224, CC Docket No. 96-98, NSD File No. L-97-42 (rel. September 28, 1998) ("Pennsylvania Numbering Order"). The Pennsylvania Numbering Order delegated additional authority to state public utility commissions to order NXX code rationing in jeopardy situations and encouraged state commissions to seek further limited delegations of authority to implement other innovative number conservation methods. On February 17, 1999, the Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Energy ("Petitioner") filed a petition requesting that Commission waive the provisions of 47 C.F.R. Section 52.19(c)(3) and permit the Petitioner additional authority to implement various area code conservation measures in the 508, 617, 781, and 978 area codes in eastern Massachusetts. The Petitioner requests this waiver as part of its ongoing area code relief plan investigation for these area codes. Petitioner requests that the Commission grant it the authority for the 508, 617, 781, and 978 area codes to: (1) reclaim unused and reserved exchange codes; (2) maintain the current central office code rationing measures for at least six months after implementation of all the area code relief plans; (3) revise rationing procedures; (4) hear and address claims of carriers seeking additional codes outside of the rationing plan; (5) set code allocation standards; (6) institute thousand number block pooling; (7) implement Extended Local Calling Areas; (8) implement Inconsistent Rate Centers; and (9) implement Unassigned Number Porting. Petitioner states that exchange codes are being exhausted with increasing speed and Massachusetts is faced with creating four new area codes within just two years of creating two area codes. Petitioner states that allowing it to investigate and implement a full array of area code conservation measures will help mitigate the need for additional area codes. Further, petitioner claims that state regulators are in the best position to explore whether a given code conservation method would unreasonably discriminate or unduly inhibit competition. We hereby seek comment on the issues raised in Petitioner's request for authority to implement various area code conservation measures in the 508, 617, 781, and 978 area codes in eastern Massachusetts. A copy of Petitioner's request may be obtained from the Network Services Division Reference Center, Room 220, 2000 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., Monday through Thursday, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Interested parties may file comments concerning this matter on or before April 5, 1999, and reply comments on or before April 19, 1999. All filings must reference File No. NSD-L-98-19 and should be sent to Al McCloud, Network Services Division, 2000 M Street, N.W., Room 235, Washington, D.C. 20554. After April 8, 1999, all comments should be mailed to Al McCloud, Network Services Division, 445 12th Street, S.W., Suite 6A-320. Washington, D.C. 20554. This is a "permit but disclose" proceeding for purposes of the Commission's ex parte rules. See generally 47 C.F.R.  1.1200-1.1216. As a "permit but disclose" proceeding, ex parte presentations will be governed by the procedures set forth in Section 1.1206 of the Commission's rules applicable to non-restricted proceedings. 47 C.F.R.  1.1206. Parties making oral ex parte presentations are reminded that memoranda summarizing the presentation must contain a summary of the substance of the presentation and not merely a listing of the subjects discussed. More than a one or two sentence description of the views and arguments presented is generally required. See 47 C.F.R.  1.1206(b)(2). Other rules pertaining to oral and written presentations are set forth in Section 1.1206(b) as well. Documents are available for review and copying at the Network Services Division Reference Center, Room 220, 2000 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., Monday through Thursday, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., (202) 418-2325. For further information contact Al McCloud of the Common Carrier Bureau, Network Services Division, at (202) 418-2320 or amccloud@fcc.gov. The TTY number is (202) 418-0484. -FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION-