ARCHIVED -  Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2012-655

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Ottawa, 29 November 2012

Establishment of a CISC ad hoc committee for relief planning for area codes 226 and 519 in southern Ontario

File number: 8698-C12-201214923

With this notice, the Commission announces the establishment of a CRTC Interconnection Steering Committee ad hoc relief planning committee (RPC) to examine options and make recommendations for providing numbering relief to area codes 226 and 519 in southern Ontario. The Commission invites members of the public and telecommunications service providers to participate in the RPC’s activities.

Introduction

1. On 17 October 2012, the Canadian Numbering Administrator (CNA) advised the Commission that, based on the results of the latest numbering resource utilization forecasts,¹ area codes 226 and 519 are now projected to exhaust by January 2017. Area codes 226 and 519 consist of 210 exchanges including Brantford, Chatham, Galt, Goderich, Guelph, Hespeler, Kitchener-Waterloo, London, Orangeville, Owen Sound, Sarnia, Simcoe, Stratford, Windsor, and Woodstock, located in the south western part of Ontario. You can consult the area code map on the CNA website.

2. The Commission-approved Canadian NPA [Numbering Plan Area] 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. 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.

RPC for area codes 226 and 519

4. With this notice, the Commission establishes the ad hoc RPC for area codes 226 and 519 (the 226/519 RPC) under CISC and directs the CNA to chair this committee.

5. The scope of the 226/519 RPC’s relief planning activities is limited to the consideration of solutions for introducing new numbering resources within the area currently served by area codes 226 and 519. Since area code relief planning does not affect local and long distance calling patterns or rates, these issues are outside the scope of the 226/519 RPC’s relief planning activities.

6. In rendering its decision on the relief measures to be adopted, the Commission will consider all relief options identified and recommendations made by the 226/519 RPC.

7. In developing its recommendations, the 226/519 RPC is directed to set aside four central office (CO) codes for initial code assignments for carriers already providing service in the area served by area codes 226/519 and seven CO codes for initial code assignments exclusively for new entrants.

8. The Commission notes that the 226/519 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 226/519 RPC’s activities.

Procedure

9.      The CNA is to announce the location and time of the 226/519 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 226/519 RPC’s activities may also reach the CNA by telephone at 613-563-7242.

Important notice

10. All information provided 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 provided.

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. The information provided 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 search engine or a third-party search engine will not link directly to the information provided as part of this public process.

Location of CRTC offices

14. 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

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

Secretary General

Date modified:

2012-11-29