Telecom - Commission Letter addressed to Kelly T. (KT) Walsh (Canadian Numbering Administrator)
Ottawa, 19 January 2022
Our reference: 8621-C12-01/08
BY EMAIL
Kelly T. (KT) Walsh
Chair, CISC CSCN
Canadian Numbering Administrator
150 Isabella Street, Suite 605
Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5H3
kelly.walsh@cnac.ca
Subject: Identifying Solutions to Resolve Numbering Exhaust
Dear KT. Walsh:
Based on the apparent rapid rate of new area code implementations across Canada, and some recent Numbering Resource Utilization Forecast (NRUF) submissions, Commission staff have noticed that numbering resources in Canada appear to be diminishing at a rate that exceeds the expected life span for area codes. The rapid depletion of numbering resources can be observed in areas with lower population density. This asymmetrical allocation of numbering resources could be viewed as inefficient and may be accelerating projected exhaust dates.
Increased assignment of central office (CO) codes has recently resulted in the announcement of multiple NPAs being categorized in jeopardy condition, including two areas in Eastern Ontario (343/613) Footnote1 and central Ontario (249/705) Footnote2. According to January 2021 NRUF forecasts, the projected exhaust date for area code complex 343/613 had advanced 16 months, from February 2024 to October 2022. A similar change was observed in area code complex 249/705, with the projected exhaust date advancing from December 2024 to April 2023. This trend was also exhibited in the July 2021 NRUF, where three additional area code complexes were declared in jeopardy condition, including those in Manitoba (204/431), Alberta (403/587/780/825), and Western Quebec (819/873).
Commission staff considers that the Canadian Steering Committee on Numbering (CSCN) is aptly placed to undertake an examination and submit a report on this topic to assist in identifying potential factors influencing increasing numbering resource exhaust and associated solutions. This work would further identify whether numbering resources are being used in the most effective and efficient manner to meet current and future Canadian numbering requirements and what measures can be undertaken to ensure that issues are resolved.
The proposed report could investigate the following:
- Comparison of NPA assignment rate in Canada vs the United States;
- Identify regulatory and policy issues that influence numbering exhaust in Canadian NPAs;
- Impact of the current pace of exhaust as described above on the pool of NPAs available to Canada and considering the NANP as a whole, including the impact of action vs. non-action by the Commission;
- Identify actions or conditions contributing to accelerated numbering exhaust in Canada;
- What measures could be taken to increase the utilization rate of numbers in Canada, without severely impacting customers;
- The usefulness of non-geographically assigned numbers (ex. 6XX series), and are there measures that could be taken to increase their usefulness (i.e.: interconnection standard);
- Determine the effect some solutions may have on customers and carriers, and other stakeholders, including any associated costs;
- An estimation of the effectiveness (i.e.: increased utilization rate of existing CO codes) of any proposed measures; and,
- Any other issues that the CSCN may deem relevant.
Commission staff therefore request that the CSCN submit a report to the undersigned by: 18 May 2022.
Yours sincerely,
Original signed by
Fiona Gilfillan
Executive Director - Telecommunications
Telecom Sector
c.c.: Michel Murray, CRTC, 819-997-9300, michel.murray@crtc.gc.ca
Bill Mason, CRTC, 819-953-8882, bill.mason@crtc.gc.ca
- Date modified: