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If you need the complete document, download the WordPerfect version or Adobe Acrobat version, if available. *************************************************************** ** DA 00-1995 Released: August 30, 2000 COMMON CARRIER BUREAU SEEKS COMMENT ON THE CALIFORNIA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION AND MAINE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION PETITIONS FOR WAIVER OF THE REQUIREMENT TO CONFORM THEIR THOUSANDS-BLOCK NUMBER POOLING TRIALS TO THE NATIONAL THOUSANDS- BLOCK NUMBER POOLING RULES BY SEPTEMBER 1, 2000 NSD File No. L-00-185 (California) NSD File No. L-00-186 (Maine) Pleading Cycle Established COMMENTS: September 12, 2000 REPLY COMMENTS: September 19, 2000 Congress granted the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) exclusive jurisdiction over those portions of the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) that relate to the United States, and directed that the FCC administer the NANP in a manner that assures that numbering resources are available on an equitable basis. The FCC was also permitted to delegate its authority over numbering administration to state public utility commissions. The FCC and the Common Carrier Bureau (Bureau) granted several state public utility commissions the authority to deploy various numbering resource optimization strategies, including the authority to institute thousands-block number pooling trials. Although the FCC and the Bureau granted the state public utility commissions significant authority to institute numbering resource optimization measures, these grants were subject to the caveat that they would be superseded by forthcoming national number conservation measures adopted in the FCC's Numbering Resource Optimization proceeding. On March 31, 2000, the FCC released the Numbering Resource Optimization Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NRO Order). With the release of the NRO Order, the FCC adopted a number of administrative and technical measures that will allow it to monitor more closely the way numbering resources are used within the NANP as well as promote more efficient use of NANP resources. In particular, the FCC adopted a nationwide system for allocating numbers in blocks of one thousand, rather than ten thousand, wherever possible, and announced its intention to establish a plan for national rollout of thousands-block number pooling. To ensure consistency and uniformity in pooling administration in a cost-effective manner, a single national Pooling Administrator, selected through a competitive bidding process, will administer national thousands-block number pooling. The FCC concluded that the national thousands-block number pooling rollout should occur no longer than nine months after the selection of a thousands-block number Pooling Administrator. Because the FCC recognized that state thousands-block number pooling trials already underway may not conform to the standards set forth in the NRO Order, the FCC gave state commissions until September 1, 2000, at the latest, to conform their thousands-block number pooling trials with the national framework set forth in the NRO Order. As enunciated in the NRO Order, uniform standards for thousands-block number pooling are necessary to minimize the confusion and additional expense related to compliance with inconsistent regulatory requirements. Recently, the California Public Utilities Commission and the People of the State of California (California Commission) and the Maine Public Utilities Commission (Maine Commission) requested waiver of the FCC's requirement that states conform their thousands- block number pooling trials to the FCC's national pooling rules by September 1, 2000. The California Commission and Maine Commission request that the FCC grant a waiver of this requirement so that they can continue to apply their thousands-block number pooling rules until the national thousands-block number pooling rollout begins, at which time they will conform with the national thousands-block number pooling rules. Both parties state that to make them conform by September 1, 2000 with the national thousands-block number pooling rules would be premature and a detrimental step backwards in delaying the exhaust of area codes given that the national thousands-block number pooling rollout may not begin for 18 months or more. We hereby seek comment on the California Commission and Maine Commission petitions for waiver of the FCC's requirement that state public utility commissions conform their thousands-block number pooling trials to the FCC's national pooling rules by September 1, 2000. A copy of the petitions will be available during regular business hours at the FCC Reference Center, Portals II, 445 12th Street, S.W., Suite CY-A257, Washington, D.C. 20554, (202) 418-0270. Interested parties may file comments concerning this matter on or before September 12, 2000, and reply comments on or before September 19, 2000. All filings must reference File No. NSD-L-00-185, NSD L-00-186 and CC Docket 99-200. Send an original and four copies to the FCC Secretary, Magalie Roman Salas, Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW, Suite TW-A325, Washington, D.C. 20554 and two copies to Al McCloud, Network Services Division, Portals II, 445 12th Street, S.W., Room 6A-320, Washington, D.C. 20554. Comments may be filed using the FCC's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) or by filing paper copies. Comments filed through the ECFS can be sent as an electronic file via the Internet to . If using this method, please reference CC Docket No. 99-200 in the Proceeding block. Generally, only one copy of an electronic submission must be filed. In completing the transmittal screen, commenters should include their full name, postal service mailing address, and the applicable docket or rulemaking number. Parties may also submit an electronic comment by Internet e-mail. To get filing instructions for e-mail comments, commenters should send an e-mail to ecfs@fcc.gov, including "get form " in the body of the message. A sample form and directions will be sent in reply. After filing your comments electronically, please send an e-mail to Al McCloud, amccloud@fcc.gov, indicating that comments have been filed. This is a "permit but disclose" proceeding for purposes of the FCC's ex parte rules. As a "permit but disclose" proceeding, ex parte presentations will be governed by the procedures set forth in Section 1.1206 of the FCC's rules applicable to non-restricted proceedings. 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. Other rules pertaining to oral and written presentations are set forth in Section 1.1206(b) as well. For further information contact Aaron Goldberger of the Common Carrier Bureau, Network Services Division, at (202) 418-2320 or agoldber@fcc.gov. The TTY number is (202) 418-0484. -FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION-