Telecom Decision CRTC 2019-123

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Ottawa, 29 April 2019

Public record: 8621-C12-01/08 and 8698-C12-200700345

CISC Canadian Steering Committee on Numbering – Consensus report CNRE125A regarding return of central office codes to the Numbering Plan Area 250 assignment pool

The Commission determines that the requirement that the Canadian Numbering Administrator reserve central office codes 250-948, 250-986, and 250-987 for the exclusive use of Northwestel Inc. be reversed, and that these codes be returned to the Numbering Plan Area 250 assignment pool.  

Background

1. In the proceeding initiated by Public Notice 2007-2, Northwestel Inc. (Northwestel) indicated that its network had limitations with regard to provisioning more than one Numbering Plan Area (NPA) code (hereafter, area code) in some of its switches in northern British Columbia. Northwestel therefore requested that the Commission set aside three central office (CO) codes from NPA 250 to allow for growth in its northern British Columbia exchanges.^{Footnote 1}
2. In Telecom Decision 2007-38, the Commission directed the Canadian Numbering Administrator (CNA) to reserve three CO codes from NPA 250 for Northwestel’s growth requirements in its northern British Columbia exchanges. The Commission considered that reserving these CO codes would enable Northwestel to use its current switches and avoid the expense of replacing 13 of its 15 switches in northern British Columbia.
3. As a result, the CNA reserved CO codes 250-948, 250-986, and 250-987 for the exclusive use of Northwestel.

Report

4. On 10 December 2018, the Commission received a consensus report (CNRE125A) from the CRTC Interconnection Steering Committee (CISC)^{Footnote 2} Canadian Steering Committee on Numbering (CSCN), proposing to reverse the provisions of Telecom Decision 2007-38 with respect to the CO code reservations. The consensus report can be found in the “Reports” section of the CSCN page, which is available in the CISC section of the Commission’s website at www.crtc.gc.ca.
5. In the report, the CSCN noted that Northwestel had recently informed the CNA that the three reserved NPA 250 CO codes were no longer required, as its switches in northern British Columbia had been upgraded to accommodate more than a single area code. Consequently, these CO codes could be returned to “Available” status.
6. As a result, the CSCN recommended
   • that the Commission reverse the requirement for the CNA to reserve CO codes 250-948, 250-986, and 250-987 for the exclusive use of Northwestel; and
   • that these CO codes be returned to the NPA 250 assignment pool.

Commission’s analysis and determinations

7. The Commission notes that in Telecom Regulatory Policy 2013-711, it made a number of determinations in support of Northwestel’s proposed modernization plan. This plan included the installation of new switches in many of the communities it serves. In a letter dated 4 July 2018, the Commission noted that Northwestel had completed a total of 460 projects, including switch upgrades.
8. The Commission considers that newer switches likely do not have restrictions on the number of area codes they can handle. In addition, Northwestel itself notified the CNA that the reserved CO codes are no longer required.
9. Accordingly, the Commission approves the CSCN’s report and determines that the CNA is to
   • reverse the requirement that the CNA reserve CO codes 250-948, 250-986, and 250-987 for the exclusive use of Northwestel, and
   • return these CO codes to the NPA 250 assignment pool.

Secretary General

Related documents

• Northwestel Inc. – Regulatory Framework, Modernization Plan, and related matters, Telecom Regulatory Policy CRTC 2013-711, 18 December 2013
• Code relief for area code 250 – British Columbia, Telecom Decision CRTC 2007-38, 7 June 2007
• Relief planning for numbering plan area 250 in British Columbia, Telecom Public Notice CRTC 2007-2, 11 January 2007

Date modified:

2019-04-29