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ARCHIVED - Telecom Decision CRTC 2010-213

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  Route reference: Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2009-310
  Ottawa, 13 April 2010
 

Code relief for area codes 289 and 905 in southern Ontario

  File number: 8698-C12-200908080
  In this decision, the Commission determines that relief for area codes 289 and 905 is to be provided by overlaying the area served by those area codes with new area code 365, starting on 25 March 2013.
 

Introduction

1.

On 28 April 2009, the Canadian Numbering Administrator (CNA) informed the Commission that the results of a general numbering resource utilization forecast indicated that area codes 289 and 905 in southern Ontario would exhaust by February 2014.

2.

The Commission subsequently issued Establishment of a CISC ad hoc committee for area code relief planning for area codes 289 and 905 in southern Ontario, Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2009-310, 28 May 2009 (Telecom Notice of Consultation 2009-310), in which it established a relief planning committee (RPC) to examine options for providing relief for area codes 289 and 905 in southern Ontario.

3.

Since the notice of consultation was issued, the Commission has received two numbering resource utilization forecasts that have predicted different exhaust dates. The first, dated 1 June 2009, indicates that area codes 289 and 905 were to exhaust by October 2016. The second, dated 1 February 2010, indicates that the exhaust date is now March 2014. According to the 1 February 2010 forecast, the subsequent exhaust date will be in 2024.
 

The RPC's submission

4.

The RPC filed a planning document and a relief implementation plan with the Commission, both dated 7 December 2009. In the planning document, the RPC evaluated nine relief options for area codes 289 and 905, including variations on geographic splits and boundary extension overlays.

5.

Based on its analysis of the various relief options, the RPC recommended that
 

a) code relief be provided by a distributed overlay of a new area code on the area served by area codes 289 and 905, with an effective date of 24 October 2015;

 

b) area code 365 be reserved as the most suitable area code for code relief in the area served by area codes 289 and 905;

 

c) area code 742 be reserved for subsequent relief in the 365-289-905 area because the numbering resource utilization forecast issued in June 2009 indicated that the 289-905 area would exhaust again in 2036;

 

d) if a jeopardy condition1 is declared, (i) the seven central office (CO) codes set aside for initial code assignment for carriers already providing service in the 289-905 area be made available for general assignment prior to relief being implemented, and (ii) the fifteen CO codes set aside for initial code assignment for new entrants be made available only to new entrants prior to relief being implemented; and

 

e) in the event of a jeopardy condition, CO codes 367, 368, and 942, which correspond to future Canadian area codes, be made assignable.

6.

In the relief implementation plan, the RPC included detailed implementation measures to provide relief in accordance with the recommendations set out in the planning document. The relief implementation plan also included a network implementation plan and a consumer awareness program as attachments.

7.

The Commission considers that the RPC's planning document and relief implementation plan, and the latest numbering resource utilization forecast raise the following issues:
 

I. What relief method should be used and when should it be implemented?

 

II. Which area code should be reserved?

 

III. How should certain CO codes be treated in area codes 289 and 905?

 

IV. Should the Commission approve the relief implementation plan?

I. What relief method should be used and when should it be implemented?

8.

The Commission notes that overlaying a new area code on the area served by area codes 289 and 905 would not require subscribers to change phone numbers. The Commission considers that, compared with the other options evaluated by the RPC, this would be the least disruptive option for subscribers, would cost less to implement, and would provide long-term relief.

9.

The Commission notes that area code overlays require 10-digit local dialing to ensure proper call routing between the area codes. The Commission further notes that 10-digit local dialing was implemented in the 289-905 area on 9 June 2001 when area code 289 was overlaid on area code 905. Therefore, there is no need for a permissive dialing period prior to the implementation of the new overlay area code.

10.

The Commission considers that the relief date should be 12 to 18 months prior to the projected exhaust date to ensure an adequate supply of CO codes, even if the projected exhaust date were to advance due to an increase in CO code demand.

11.

The Commission notes that the latest numbering resource utilization forecast indicates that area codes 289 and 905 will exhaust by March 2014, 29 months earlier than the originally anticipated exhaust date, and 19 months earlier than the relief date recommended by the RPC in its planning document.

12.

Accordingly, the Commission determines that the area served by area codes 289 and 905 is to be overlaid with a new area code, effective 25 March 2013.
 

II. Which area code should be reserved?

13.

The Commission notes the RPC's recommendation that area code 365 be used for the relief of area codes 289 and 905.

14.

The Commission considers that it is a 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, since this reduces the potential for customer confusion when dialing. Since area code 365 meets this criterion, the Commission determines that it is to be reserved for use as the new overlay area code for area codes 289 and 905.

15.

The Commission notes that the RPC recommended that area code 742 be reserved for subsequent area code relief in this area. The Commission considers that area code 742 also meets the criterion discussed above and that it could potentially be used for future relief in the 365-289-905 area, which is expected to exhaust again approximately 10 years after the next exhaust date. Accordingly, the Commission determines that area code 742 should be set aside as a potential future relief area code for area codes 365, 289, and 905.
 

III. How should certain CO codes be treated in area codes 289 and 905?

 

CO codes for initial code assignments

16.

The Commission notes that in Telecom Notice of Consultation 2009-310, it directed that CO codes be set aside for initial code assignment after relief implementation – seven CO codes for carriers already providing service in area codes 289 and 905, and fifteen for new entrants.

17.

The Commission notes the RPC's recommendation that if a jeopardy condition is declared in area codes 289 and 905 prior to relief being implemented, the seven CO codes set aside for existing carriers should be made available for general assignment, and the fifteen CO codes set aside for new entrants should be made available to these new entrants.

18.

The Commission agrees with this recommendation and determines that if a jeopardy condition is declared, these CO codes are to be made available for assignment as proposed.
 

CO codes that correspond to future area codes

19.

The Commission notes the RPC's recommendation that CO codes 367, 368, and 942, which correspond to future Canadian area codes, be made available in the event of a jeopardy condition.

20.

The Commission considers that CO code 942, which has already been identified as a potential future relief area code for area code 902 in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, should only be used as a last resort. The Commission further determines that making CO codes 367 and 368 available for assignment immediately following relief is not necessary, and that it is preferable to designate these CO codes as unavailable for assignment since they correspond to area codes in the Canadian area code relief pool.
 

IV. Should the Commission approve the relief implementation plan?

21.

The Commission notes that the relief implementation plan includes a detailed implementation activity schedule, a network implementation plan, and a consumer awareness plan. The Commission further notes that the recommendations and milestones included in the relief implementation plan have been altered by the Commission's determinations in this decision due to the revised relief time frames.

22.

Accordingly, the Commission requests that the RPC update the relief implementation plan to reflect the determinations set out in this decision and re-file the plan for Commission approval.
  Secretary General
  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.

_____________________

Footnote:

1     According to the Canadian NPA Relief Planning Guidelines, a jeopardy condition is declared when the forecast and/or actual demand for central office (CO) codes exceeds the available supply of CO codes before relief is implemented, or the implementation time frame is shorter than 36 months and no relief plan is yet in place.

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