ARCHIVED - Public Notice CRTC 2001-71

Public Notice CRTC 2001-71

Ottawa, 18 June 2001

Providing relief for the diminishing supply of telephone numbers in area codes 613 and 819

Reference: 8698-C12-16/01

Telephone numbers in area codes 613 and 819 will soon be depleted. Solutions and recommendations for a relief plan have been identified by a subcommittee of the CRTC Industry Steering Committee. This public notice invites comments on solutions and recommendations in determining the appropriate relief method(s) and date(s) for these area codes. Parties who wish to provide comments are requested to submit their responses to this public notice by 8 August 2001.

Area code 613 serves a large portion of eastern Ontario, including Ottawa, Belleville, Brockville, Cornwall, Kingston and Pembroke.

Area code 613 is divided into 131 telephone company exchanges. Customers in 37 of these exchanges have local seven-digit dialing to exchanges on the Quebec side of the Ottawa River in area code 819. Almost all of these exchanges (36 out of 37) have local seven-digit dialing to exchanges in the city of Hull and the surrounding area.

Area code 819 serves most of western and northern Quebec, including Hull, Drummondville, Shawinigan, Sherbrooke, Trois-Rivières and Victoriaville.

Area code 819 is divided into 213 telephone company exchanges. Customers in 19 of these exchanges have local seven-digit dialing to exchanges on the Ontario side of the Ottawa River in area code 613. Almost all of these exchanges (18 out of 19) have local seven-digit dialing to exchanges in the city of Ottawa and the surrounding areas of area code 613.

Area code exhaust

An area code exhausts when no additional central office codes (i.e., the first three digits of a seven-digit telephone number) are available for assignment to a telecommunications service provider.

Central office codes are assigned by the Canadian Numbering Administrator (CNA) for use by telecommunications service providers in a particular exchange to meet their customers' demand for telephone numbers.

With the introduction of new telecommunications technologies in recent years, the demand for new numbers has increased dramatically. As a result, the supply of telephone numbers available to service providers - and their customers - decreases and more central office codes are required. Area code exhaust occurs when no more central office codes are available for assignment.

Every year, the CNA conducts a survey of service providers operating in all Canadian area codes to determine when area code exhaust will occur, and when relief planning should begin.

In August 2000, the CNA completed a more detailed survey of service providers operating in area codes 613 and 819. This survey provides information on the actual number of central office codes assigned to each carrier in these two area codes, as well as a forecast of their needs over the next five years. The results of this survey indicated that area code 613 would exhaust in January 2006 and area code 819 would exhaust in January 2005.

In February 2001, the CNA conducted its annual survey of all area codes. This survey indicates that the exhaust of area code 613 may not occur until August 2007 and the exhaust of area code 819 may not occur until March 2007.

Protected codes

The 613 and 819 area codes are somewhat unique in that the local calling area in the Ottawa-Hull area overlaps two provinces and two area codes, and is treated as a single exchange by telecommunications networks. To permit seven-digit local dialing between the two area codes, a particular central office code can only be assigned in one of the two area codes within the Ottawa-Hull local calling area. For example, if the central office code "232" from area code 613 is assigned in Ottawa, then central office code "232" from area code 819 is not assigned in Hull. The central office code that is not assigned in this case is called a "protected" code.

As of 1 January 2001, there were 64 protected codes in area code 613, and 131 protected codes in area code 819. If these codes were no longer protected, they would become available for assignment and would delay exhaust of these area codes.

Based on the survey conducted in August 2000, the CNA estimates that the release of these protected codes would defer exhaust of area code 613 to 2008 and area code 819 to 2024. The 2001 annual survey indicates that the release of these protected codes may defer exhaust of area code 613 to 2011 and 819 to 2022.

The release of these protected codes would require that local calls placed between these two area codes include the area code of the number being dialed, i.e., ten-digit local dialing.

Area code relief methods

Area code relief involves the addition of a new area code to part or all of the region served by the original area code. The addition of a new area code requires a great deal of work on the part of both telecommunications service providers and their customers. In order to ensure that telephone numbers continue to be available, relief normally takes place 12 to 18 months prior to exhaust. This schedule also allows for some volatility in case demand should unexpectedly increase.

It is important to note that area code relief planning does not alter local and long distance calling areas, or rates.

Two types of area code relief methods

New area codes are normally added in one of two ways: a split or an overlay.

Splitting an area code

An exhausting area code may be "split" into two or more parts. One of these parts would retain the original area code while a new area code would be assigned to the other part or parts. Since central office codes are assigned to telephone company exchanges, area codes are almost always split along the boundaries of these exchanges to minimize technical difficulties and confusion for service providers and customers. It is also important to split area codes along clearly defined boundaries such as municipalities, major roads or geographic landmarks so that these boundaries are easily recognized by customers.

Customers in exchanges that become part of the new area code retain the same seven-digit telephone numbers. However, the new area code replaces the original area code as the first three digits of the full ten-digit number. Depending on how an area code is split, customers in both the new and original area codes may be able to retain local seven-digit dialing within the area code. Local calls placed between area codes, however, would require ten-digit dialing.

Implementation of an area code split requires a "permissive dialing period". During this period, local calls placed to customers in the new area code may be placed using either the new or the original area code. In addition, customers who dial using the other party's original area code may hear a message reminding the customer that, in future calls, they should use the new area code. Any equipment that may be affected by this message must be made ready before this message is introduced.

The "permissive dialing period" provides time for customers and service providers to reprogram or upgrade equipment (e.g., cellular handsets, speed dial lists, auto-dialers, security alarms, etc.) to handle the new area code and, where required, accommodate local 10-digit dialing. Once the permissive dialing period is over, calls that are not dialed using the correct area code will not be routed correctly, or may be routed to the wrong telephone number. All necessary changes to customer and network equipment must be completed before the end of the permissive dialing period.

Overlaying an area code

Part or all of an exhausting area code may also be "overlaid" with a new area code or area codes instead of splitting the area code. In this case, the new area code is added to some or all of the exchanges served by the existing area code. Central office codes from this new area code may be assigned for use by service providers operating in the "overlaid" exchanges. A portion of an exhausting area code may be overlaid with a new area code, for example, in order to provide new resources to an area of very high demand.

Since telephone numbers from two or more area codes may be in use in a single exchange, all local calls must be dialed using ten digits to ensure the call can be routed to the correct destination. All existing telephone numbers would remain in the same area code, although new telephone numbers may be assigned from the new area code.

An area code overlay also requires a "permissive dialing period". During this period, local calls may be placed using either seven or ten digits. In addition, customers who place a call using seven digits may hear a message reminding them to dial local calls by using ten digits. Any equipment that may be affected by this message must be made ready before this message is introduced.

As with an area code split, the "permissive dialing period" for an overlay provides time for customers and service providers to reprogram or upgrade equipment (e.g., speed dial lists, auto-dialers, security alarms, etc.) to handle ten-digit local dialing. Once the permissive dialing period is over, local calls that are not dialed using ten digits will not be routed correctly. All necessary changes to customer and network equipment must be completed before the end of the permissive dialing period.

Relief planning activities to date

In July 2000, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) Canada, in its role as the CNA, announced that area codes 613 and 819 were projected to exhaust within five years. The CNA also requested that service providers submit the necessary information to complete a detailed survey of the anticipated assignment of central office codes in these area codes.

On 5 February 2001, the Commission issued Public Notice CRTC 2001-20, announcing the establishment of the Numbering Plan Area (NPA or area code) 613/819 Relief Planning Committee as an ad hoc committee of the CRTC Interconnection Steering Committee (CISC). The public notice invited interested parties to participate in meetings to identify solutions to the area code exhaust situation. In addition, the Commission distributed an information bulletin to municipal governments located in the regions served by the 613 and 819 area codes.

At the first meeting of the Relief Planning Committee, the CNA provided an initial planning document that identified a number of alternatives to be considered in planning area code relief.

During a series of public meetings, the committee developed a consensus planning document. This planning document includes an analysis of all the options that could be implemented to provide relief for exhaust in area codes 613 and 819, including those recommended by the CNA as well as additional options identified by the Committee. The planning document is attached to this public notice.

The consensus planning document was approved by the CISC on 30 May 2001.

The recommendations

The recommendations contained in the Relief Planning Committee's consensus planning document are summarized as follows:

a) protected central office codes used to permit seven-digit local dialing between area codes 613 and 819 should be released in the fourth quarter of 2005. This will require the introduction of ten-digit local dialing between NPAs 819 and 613.

b) the relief date for area code 613 should tentatively be scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2009.

c) relief of area code 613 should be implemented using an overlay of all exchanges currently served by the existing area code (i.e., a "distributed" overlay, as described in the attached planning document).

d) if the protected codes in area code 819 are released, no further relief of this area code needs to take place at this time.

How to submit your comments

The Commission seeks input to:

a) identify solutions to the exhaust issue in the 613 and 819 area codes;

b) evaluate the options and recommendations developed by the CISC Ad Hoc NPA 613/819 Relief Planning Committee and described in the planning document (attached);

c) determine the effects of various relief options on consumers, telecommunications service providers and all other affected parties;

d) establish an appropriate relief date(s) for area codes 613 and 819; and

e) determine which relief option(s) is most appropriate to alleviate the exhaust of area codes 613 and 819.

Parties wishing to examine other documents relating to the activities of the NPA 613/819 Ad Hoc Relief Planning Committee can do so by accessing the CNA's website at http://www.cnac.ca/npa_data.htm  or by contacting the office of the CNA at (613) 563-7242 ext. 317.

Persons on the list of parties Re: Public Notice 2001-20, as revised from time to time, are made interested parties to this proceeding.

Other persons wishing to participate fully in this proceeding must notify the Commission of their intention to do so by 16 July 2001. They should contact the Secretary General by mail at CRTC, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0N2; by fax at (819) 953-0795; or by email at procedure@crtc.gc.ca.  They are to indicate in the notice their email address, where available. If parties do not have access to the Internet, they are to indicate in their notice whether they wish to receive disk versions of hard copy filings. The Commission will issue, as soon as possible after the registration date, a complete list of parties and their mailing addresses (including email addresses, if available), identifying those parties who wish to receive disk versions.

Parties may file comments with the Commission, serving copies on all other parties by 8 August 2001.

Parties may file reply comments with the Commission, serving copies on all other parties by 22 August 2001

Where a document is to be filed or served by a specific date, the document must be actually received, not merely sent, by that date.

Parties wishing to file electronic versions of their comments can do so by email at the address shown above, or on diskette.

The electronic version should be in the HTML format. As an alternative, those making submissions may use "Microsoft Word" for text and "Microsoft Excel" for spreadsheets.

Please number each paragraph of your submission. In addition, please enter the line ***End of Document*** following the last paragraph. This will help the Commission verify that the document has not been damaged during transmission.

The Commission will make submissions filed in electronic form available on its web site at www.crtc.gc.ca  in the official language and format in which they are submitted. This will make it easier for members of the public to consult the documents.

The Commission also encourages interested parties to monitor the public examination file (and/or the Commission's web site) for additional information that they may find useful when preparing their submissions.

Submissions may be examined or will be made available promptly upon request at the Commission offices during normal business hours:

Central Building
Les Terrasses de la Chaudière
1 Promenade du Portage, Room G-5
Hull, Quebec K1A 0N2
Tel: (819) 997-2429 - TDD: 994-0423
Fax: (819) 994-0218

55 St. Clair Avenue East
Suite 624
Toronto, Ontario M4T 1M2
Tel: (416) 952-9096
Fax: (416) 954-6343

405 de Maisonneuve Blvd. East
2^nd Floor, Suite B2300
Montréal, Quebec H2L 4J5
Tel: (514) 283-6607 - TDD: 283-8316
Fax: (514) 283-3689

Secretary General

This document is available in alternative format upon request and may also be examined at the following Internet site: http://www.crtc.gc.ca