PUBLIC NOTICE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 445 12th Street, SW WASHINGTON, DC 20554 News Media Information (202) 418-0500 Fax-On-Demand 202/418-2830 Internet http://www.fcc.gov TTY: 202/418-2555 DA 99-2016Released: September 29, 1999 COMMON CARRIER BUREAU SEEKS COMMENT ON THE OHIO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION'S PETITION FOR DELEGATION OF ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY TO IMPLEMENT NUMBER CONSERVATION MEASURES NSD File No. L-99-74 Pleading Cycle Established COMMENTS: October 20, 1999 REPLY COMMENTS: November 3, 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 September 13, 1999, the Ohio Public Utilities Commission (Petitioner) filed a petition requesting a grant to the Petitioner of additional authority to implement certain area code conservation measures in the State of Ohio. The Petitioner specifically requests authority to: (1) enforce current standards for number allocation, or to set and enforce new standards and requirements; (2) order the return of unused, improperly used, reserved, and/or protected NXX codes (and/or thousand blocks if number pooling is implemented); (3) order efficient number use practices within NXX codes; (4) investigate and order additional rationing measures; and (5) require number pooling where and when the state determines it to be appropriate. The Petitioner also seeks the authority to implement technology- or service-specific overlay area codes. In Number Resource Optimization, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, CC Docket No. 99-200, FCC 99-122 (rel. June 2, 1999) (Numbering Resource Optimization Notice), this Commission determined that it would address pending petitions for rulemaking and waiver of the prohibition against technology- or service-specific area codes in the broader context of that proceeding. See Numbering Resource Optimization Notice at  245, 256-61. Parties commenting on this aspect of Petitioner's request may do so, and any such comments will be considered as ex parte communications in the Numbering Resource Optimization proceeding. Petitioner states that these measures would conserve numbers, thereby slowing the pace of area code relief. They further state the measures will help protect Ohio against the disruption as well as the economic and social costs of new area codes. We hereby seek comment on the issues raised in Petitioner's request for delegation of additional authority to implement the above number conservation measures. A copy of the petition 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 October 20, 1999, and reply comments on or before November 3, 1999. All filings must reference File No. NSD-L-99-74 and CC Docket 96-98. Send original and four copies to the Commission 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 Commission'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. 96-98 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 Interne 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. Comments may be filed using the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) or by filing paper copies. After filing your comments electronically, please email Al McCloud, amccloud@fcc.gov, that comments have been filed. 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. For further information contact Jared Carlson of the Common Carrier Bureau, Network Services Division, at (202) 418-2320 or jcarlson@fcc.gov. The TTY number is (202) 418-0484. -FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION-