ARCHIVED - Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2011-260

PDF version

Ottawa, 19 April 2011

Establishment of a CISC ad hoc committee for relief planning for area code 306 in Saskatchewan

File number: 8698-C12-201106790

With this notice, the Commission announces the establishment of a CRTC Interconnection Steering Committee (CISC) ad hoc relief planning committee (RPC) to examine options for providing numbering relief to area code 306 in Saskatchewan. The Commission invites members of the public and telecommunications service providers to participate in the RPC’s activities.

Due to the jeopardy condition in area code 306, the Commission is also introducing additional central office (CO) code application requirements and requesting that the RPC develop CO code conservation measures to ensure that the projected exhaust date coincides with or falls after the scheduled relief implementation date.

Introduction

1.          On 11 March 2011, the Canadian Numbering Administrator (CNA) advised the Commission that, based on the results of the latest numbering resource utilization forecasts,[1] area code 306 is now projected to exhaust by May 2013. Area code 306 covers the entire province of Saskatchewan.

2.          The Commission-approved Canadian Numbering Plan Area (NPA) Relief Planning Guidelines (the Guidelines) provide the framework for addressing area code exhaust in Canada. The Guidelines establish a step-by-step process to be followed by the CNA and relief planning committees (RPCs). The Guidelines require relief planning activities to begin if an area code is projected to exhaust within the next 72 months.

3.          In accordance with the Guidelines, the CNA has declared a jeopardy condition for area code 306 since the projected exhaust date is within 36 months and the Commission has not yet approved a related relief plan and implementation plan. Since area code 306 is projected to exhaust within 25 months (i.e. in May 2013), the Commission considers that there is an urgent need for relief planning activity to commence immediately and to be completed as quickly as possible.

4.          The telecommunications industry conducts area code relief planning in a public manner through an ad hoc RPC under the CRTC Interconnection Steering Committee (CISC). Part of the role of an RPC is to encourage public awareness and participation in the RPC’s activities.

Area code 306 RPC

5.          With this notice, the Commission establishes the area code 306 ad hoc RPC (the 306 RPC) under CISC and directs the CNA to chair this committee.

6.          The scope of the 306 RPC’s relief planning activities is limited to the consideration of solutions for introducing new numbering resources within the area currently served by area code 306. Since area code relief planning does not affect local and long distance calling patterns or rates, these issues are outside the scope of the 306 RPC’s relief planning activities.

7.          In rendering its decision on the relief measures to be adopted, the Commission will consider all relief options identified by the 306 RPC, as well as the committee’s recommendations.

8.          The Commission notes that the 306 RPC may contemplate relief measures that would require some customers to change their telephone numbers. The Commission therefore encourages members of the public to participate in the 306 RPC’s activities.

Jeopardy condition

9.          The Commission considers that due to the jeopardy condition in area code 306, code conservation measures to extend the life of that area code must be implemented immediately. In particular, the jeopardy condition measures outlined in the Guidelines must be followed until i) the 306 RPC develops a jeopardy condition plan specific to area code 306 and ii) this plan is approved by the Commission.

10.      The Commission notes that, in the event of any special circumstances in area code 306, the earliest relief implementation date determined by the 306 RPC may be after the projected exhaust date. If this occurs, the Commission directs the 306 RPC to make recommendations on the specific code conservation measures that should be taken to move the projected exhaust date so that it coincides with, or falls after, the scheduled relief implementation date. In addition, the Commission directs the 306 RPC to set aside three CO codes from area code 306 to be made available for new entrants only, and to ensure that those CO codes remain unassigned, other than to new entrants, for a period of two years after the introduction of the new area code in Saskatchewan.

11.      Given that relief planning has yet to begin and the projected exhaust date is only about two years away, the Commission considers that special measures must be implemented immediately to ensure that the remaining CO codes are used efficiently. Therefore, the Commission will require that any CO code application to the CNA be accompanied by a letter, on company letterhead and signed by a company officer, justifying the request and certifying that the requested CO code will be in service within four months of the date of that application.

12.      The Commission will also require applicants that request additional CO codes for growth to file a Telephone Number Utilization Report Form for the applicable switching entity. This form is to be signed by both a company officer and the company’s authorized representative.

Procedure

13.      The CNA is to announce the location and time of the 306 RPC’s meetings and is to make all related documentation available on its website at www.cnac.ca. Members of the public who wish to participate in the 306 RPC’s activities may also reach the CNA by telephone at 613-563-7242.

Important notice

14.      All information that persons provide as part of this public process, except information granted confidentiality, whether sent by postal mail, facsimile, email, or through the Commission’s website at www.crtc.gc.ca, becomes part of a publicly accessible file and will be posted on the Commission’s website. This includes personal information, such as full names, email addresses, postal/street addresses, telephone and facsimile numbers, and any other personal information.

15.      The personal information provided will be used and may be disclosed for the purpose for which the information was obtained or compiled by the Commission, or for a use consistent with that purpose.

16.      Documents received electronically or otherwise will be posted on the Commission’s website in their entirety exactly as received, including any personal information contained therein, in the official language and format in which they are received. Documents not received electronically will be available in PDF format.

17.      The information that persons provide to the Commission as part of this public process is entered into an unsearchable database dedicated to this specific public process. This database is accessible only from the web page of this particular public process. As a result, a general search of the Commission’s website with the help of either its own search engine or a third-party search engine will not link directly to the information that was provided as part of this public process.

Location of CRTC offices

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

Toll-free telephone: 1-877-249-2782
Toll-free TDD: 1-877-909-2782

Central Building
Les Terrasses de la Chaudière
1 Promenade du Portage, Room 206
Gatineau, Quebec  J8X 4B1
Tel.: 819-997-2429
Fax: 819-994-0218

2220 – 12th Avenue, Suite 620
Regina, Saskatchewan  S4P 0M8
Tel.: 306-780-3422

Secretary General

Date modified:

2011-04-19