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Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20554 |
News media information 202 / 418-0500 Fax-On-Demand 202 / 418-2830 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov TTY: 202/418-2555 |
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This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974). |
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION TAKES A MAJOR INITIATIVE TO IMPROVE U.S. TELEPHONE NUMBER USAGE
New Rules Confront Issue of Rapid Telephone Number Consumption Washington, D.C. - The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today adopted new policies and rules to reduce the need for new area codes, avoiding the inconvenience, costs and confusion associated with changes in area codes for consumers and businesses. State regulatory commissions are frequently implementing new area codes, and today's FCC action will promote the more efficient use of these numbering resources, and help states in better managing new area codes. Additionally, the new rules will make the existing telephone numbering system more compatible with the increasingly competitive telecommunications environment. The rapid use of telephone numbering resources is being driven by several factors, including the increase in the number of new competitors, the introduction of new technologies, such as wireless telephones, the spread of new services, such as Internet, data, and facsimile services, and the way our numbering resources are currently managed. Last year, the FCC examined and sought comment on several administrative and technical measures for optimizing the use of numbering resources. In the Report and Order adopted today, the FCC authorizes a number of measures, which promote more efficient use of numbering resources. Specifically, today's action will ensure that:
In the rules adopted today, the FCC creates national standards to address numbering resource optimization, including:
With today's action, the FCC also sought comment on the following matters relating to its findings in the Report and Order: (1) which thousands-block number pooling costs will be eligible for recovery as carrier-specific
incremental costs; Docket No.: CC 99-200 -FCC- Action by the Commission March 17, 2000, by Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FCC 00-104). Chairman Kennard and Commissioners Ness, Furchtgott-Roth, Powell, and Tristani. Common Carrier Bureau contacts: Aaron Goldberger, Tejal Mehta or Cheryl Callahan at 202-418-2320, TTY 202-418-0484. Wireless Telecommunications Bureau contacts: Peter Wolfe at 202-418-2191, TTY 202-418-7233. News about the Federal Communications Commission can also be found |