CRTC to look at limiting number pools to 1000

The CRTC is worried about telephone number depletion and is suggesting that number pools be reduced to 1,000 from the current 10,000. It is launching a consultation so interested stakeholders may comment on the proposal. “In recent years, an increase in mobile phone, voice over IP (VoIP) and Internet of Things (IoT) services has meant that telecommunications service providers have needed more telephone numbers to serve Canadians,” the regulator said in its notice. “Data provided by the telecommunications industry shows that the commission may need to adjust its policies to ensure that there are enough phone numbers in the future.” Current rules do not favour number preservation, the CRTC stated. By being assigned 10,000 numbers in each block, many numbers do not get used. The increase in the number of area codes, also known as numbering plan areas (NPAs), means that soon Canada will run out of area codes which have been designated to it by the North American Numbering Plan (NANP). The commission believes there are two possible solutions to the problem: the sharing of central office (CO) codes and thousand-block pooling. CO code sharing would be cumbersome and a largely voluntary system, the CRTC states, while block pooling would be mandatory and apply to all TSPs. Such a regime is already in place in the United States. The regulator has issued 11 questions parties must answer in regard to the block pooling initiative. One suggestion is that smaller blocks could be assigned to rural areas to protect numbers. If an administrator is necessary to mediate disputes, how should such a role be funded? Are there other mechanisms to free up unused numbers from the larger blocks currently in use? The Canadian Numbering Administration Consortium, the Canadian Local Number Portability Consortium, Neustar Inc. and all local exchange carriers registered with the CRTC have been made parties to the proceedings. Comments are due by Apr. 24 with replies due May 9. The commission expects to issue a decision within four months of the close of record. Number depletion has long been a concern in the industry. As long ago as 2001, people were talking about the need to migrate to 12-digit dialing. Some thought numbers would have been exhausted by now. New York City implemented 11-digit dialing in 2003. –Reporting by Paul Park at ppark@thewirereport.ca and editing by Jenna Cocullo at jcocullo@thewirereport.ca. — This story has been updated to reflect changes the commission made regarding its reply comment deadline.

CRTC to look at limiting number pools to 1000

News | March 23, 2023

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CRTC to look at limiting number pools to 1000

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