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Telecom Decision CRTC 2008-89 |
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Ottawa, 10 September 2008 |
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Code relief for area code 613 - Eastern Ontario |
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Reference: 8698-C12-200714312 |
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In this Decision, the Commission makes its determinations on a code relief solution for area code 613. In this regard, the Commission directs that |
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- relief for area code 613 be provided through the implementation of a distributed overlay of a new area code on the area served by area code 613 starting on 17 May 2010; and
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- the CRTC Interconnection Steering Committee ad hoc relief planning committee for area code 613 update the relief implementation plan to include the Commission's determinations in this Decision and re-file it for Commission approval.
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Background |
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On 30 August 2007, the Canadian Numbering Administrator (CNA) informed the Commission that the results of a general numbering resource utilization forecast indicated that area code 613 would exhaust by May 2012. |
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The Commission subsequently issued Establishment of a CISC ad hoc committee for area code relief planning in eastern Ontario area code 613, Telecom Public Notice CRTC 2007-18, 12 October 2007, in which the Commission established a CRTC Interconnection Steering Committee ad hoc relief planning committee (RPC) for the purpose of making recommendations regarding the various code relief options available for area code 613. |
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The most recent numbering resource utilization forecast indicates that area code 613 will now exhaust earlier, by September 2011. |
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The RPC's submission |
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The RPC filed with the Commission a planning document and a relief implementation plan (RIP), both dated 5 May 2008. In the planning document, the RPC evaluated 13 relief options for area code 613, including variations on geographic splits and area code overlays. In the RIP, the RPC included the detailed implementation measures and plans to provide relief in accordance with its recommendations in the planning document. The RIP also includes a network implementation plan and a consumer awareness campaign plan. |
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In the planning document, the RPC recommended that |
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a) code relief be provided by a distributed overlay of a new area code on the area served by area code 613, to come into effect on 18 September 2010;
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b) area code 343 be reserved as the most suitable area code for code relief in the area served by area code 613;
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c) seven central office codes (CO codes) from area code 613 be set aside in a "Pool for Initial Code Assignments" for entities applying for an initial code in an exchange during the two-year period following the overlay of the new area code on the area served by area code 613;
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d) the CO codes 365, 367, 428, 431, 437, 460, 672, 753, 879, and 942, which correspond to future area codes, be made available for assignment in area code 613 starting from the date of a Commission decision on area code 613 relief, and in the new relief area code starting when CO code assignments become available in that new code; and
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e) the remaining unassigned CO codes corresponding to future area codes 343, 468, 568, 579, 871, and 873 remain unassignable in area code 613 and be made unassignable in the relief area code.
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The Commission considers that the RPC's planning document and RIP raise the following issues: |
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II. The reservation of area code 343
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III. The treatment of CO codes in area code 613
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IV. Timing of new area code implementation
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V. The appropriate consumer awareness methods
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VI. Relief implementation plan
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VII. Progress reports during relief implementation
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I. The relief method |
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The Commission considers that the overlay of a new area code on the area served by area code 613 would provide the best method to address CO code exhaust in the 613 area code as (i) it will not require customers to make telephone number changes, (ii) it will provide options for future relief, (iii) it will provide long-term relief as the RPC estimated that the new area code will not exhaust until 2050, and (iv) there is no impact on local dialing plans, as mandatory 10-digit dialing was implemented in October 2006. The Commission therefore determines that code relief for area code 613 is to be provided by an area code overlay. |
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II. The reservation of area code 343 |
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The Commission considers that, wherever possible, it is good assignment practice to use an area code that has not been used as a CO code within the area to be served or in areas adjacent to it, as this reduces customer dialing confusion. The Commission therefore determines that the CNA is to reserve area code 343 for use as the new area code to be overlaid on the area served by area code 613. |
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III. The treatment of CO codes in area code 613 |
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CO codes for initial code assignments |
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The Commission notes the RPC's recommendation that seven CO codes from area code 613 be set aside in a "Pool for Initial Code Assignments" to be assigned during the two-year period following the introduction of the new area code overlay. The Commission considers that with the recent CO code growth patterns in area code 613 and the potential for new entrants there could be more demand for CO codes than had been previously expected. |
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The Commission therefore determines that the CNA is to set aside 10 CO codes for initial code assignments, as well as an additional 15 CO codes for initial code assignments for new entrants only. The Commission also determines that these 15 CO codes are to remain unassignable, other than to new entrants, in area code 613 in the event a jeopardy condition is declared. The Commission notes that, in accordance with the Commission-approved Canadian Area Code Relief Planning Guidelines, the CNA may return these CO codes in the general assignment pool two years after the relief date. |
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CO codes which correspond to future area codes |
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The Commission notes the RPC's recommendation that CO codes 365, 367, 428, 431, 437, 460, 672, 753, 879, and 942, which correspond to future area codes, be made available for assignment in area code 613 starting from the date of a Commission decision on area code 613 relief and in the new relief area code starting when CO code assignments become available in that area code. The Commission considers that these CO codes should only be made available for assignment if area code 613 were to enter a jeopardy condition. Consequently the Commission determines that the CNA is to protect these CO codes and to make them available for assignment only if area code 613 enters a jeopardy condition. |
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The Commission agrees that the remaining unassigned CO codes 343, 468, 568, 579, 871, and 873, corresponding to future area codes, should remain unassignable in area code 613 and be made unassignable in the relief area code. Accordingly, the Commission determines that the CNA is to continue to treat these CO codes as unassignable in area code 613 and in the new relief area code. |
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IV. Timing of new area code implementation |
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The Commission notes that there is already 10-digit local dialing in area code 613. The Commission therefore considers that there is no need to include a permissive dialing period before the introduction of the new overlay area code in the relief implementation time frames. However, the Commission notes that the changes regarding the treatment of CO codes in area code 613 for initial and new entrant CO code assignment will result in a reduction of CO codes available for assignment and subsequently advance the exhaust date to May 2011 based on the current average monthly rate for CO code assignments. Accordingly, the Commission determines that a new overlay area code is to be distributed on the area served by area code 613, effective 17 May 2010. The Commission also determines that if future numbering resource utilization forecasts indicate a change in the exhaust date, the implementation date could be modified accordingly. |
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V. The appropriate consumer awareness methods |
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The Commission considers that, although there is no need to educate consumers on mandatory 10-digit local dialing, there is still a need to make consumers and users aware of the introduction of the new area code in the 613 area and that the prefix 1 is not required for local 10-digit dialing to, from, or within the new overlay area code or the current 613 area code. The Commission therefore determines that telecommunications service providers (TSPs) in area code 613 are to implement a consumer awareness program, on a timely basis, that highlights the introduction of the new overlay area code 343 and that there will be no changes in local dialing patterns. |
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VI. Relief implementation plan |
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The Commission notes that the RIP filed by the RPC included recommendations and milestone dates developed by the RPC. The Commission further notes that some of these recommendations and milestones have been altered by the Commission's determinations in this Decision. The Commission determines that the RIP is to be updated to include those determinations. |
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VII. Progress reports during relief implementation |
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The Commission notes that the TSPs submit progress reports to the RPC in accordance with the relief implementation schedule that includes a planned start date and planned end date for each task. The Commission considers that it would be desirable to have an indication that the implementation plan is on track or if there are potential implementation issues. The Commission considers that this can be accomplished by adding a column for "actual completion date" to the implementation schedule filed as part of each progress report. The Commission determines that those TSPs should include, where appropriate, an "Actual Completion Date" column to the progress reports. |
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Conclusion |
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The Commission determines that relief for area code 613 is to be provided through the implementation of a distributed overlay of a new area code 343 on the area served by area code 613 starting on 17 May 2010. The Commission also directs the RPC to update the RIP to include the determinations in this Decision and to re-file the RIP for Commission approval. |
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Secretary General |
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This document is available in alternative format upon request, and may also be examined in PDF format or in HTML at the following Internet site: http://www.crtc.gc.ca |