Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2025-155

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Gatineau, 23 June 2025

Public record: 8621-C12-01/08

Establishment of a CISC ad hoc committee for relief planning for area codes 782 and 902 in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island

Summary

Telephone numbers are a finite resource and a key building block at the heart of our modern communications system. Due to the emergence of many new services in recent years (such as Internet of Things applications), and the continued increase in cellphone use, more numbers are needed to serve Canadians.

The Commission is announcing 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 782 and 902 in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. The Commission invites members of the public and telecommunications service providers to participate in the RPC’s activities.

Through this decision, the Commission continues to ensure that Canada’s inventory of telephone numbers is managed responsibly to the benefit of all Canadians.

Introduction

1. On 4 April 2025, the Canadian Numbering Administrator (CNA) advised the Commission that, based on the results of the latest numbering resource utilization forecast (NRUF), area codes 782 and 902 are projected to exhaust by June 2028. These area codes cover the province of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. The area code map is available on the CNA’s website.
2. The Commission-approved Canadian NPA [Numbering Plan Area] Relief Planning Guideline (the Guideline) provides the framework for addressing area code exhaust in Canada. The Guideline establishes a step-by-step process to be followed by the CNA and relief planning committees (RPCs). The Guideline requires relief planning activities to begin if an area code is projected to exhaust within the next 36 months.^{Footnote 1}
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).

RPC for area codes 782 and 902

4. With this notice, the Commission establishes the ad hoc RPC for area codes 782 and 902 (the 782/902 RPC) under CISC and directs the CNA to chair this committee.
5. The scope of the 782/902 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 782 and 902. Area code relief planning does not affect local or long-distance calling patterns or rates. Accordingly, these issues are outside the scope of the 782/902 RPC’s relief planning activities.
6. In rendering its decision on the relief measures to be adopted, the Commission will consider all relief options recommendations by the 782/902 RPC.

Procedure

7. The Commission establishes the 782/902 RPC as a public consultation open to members of the public. The CNA is to announce the location and time of the 782/902 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 782/902 RPC’s activities may also reach the CNA by telephone at 613-702-0016.

Important notice

8. All information that parties provide to the Commission as part of this public process, except information designated confidential, whether sent by postal mail, fax, 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 all personal information, such as full names, email addresses, postal/street addresses, and telephone and fax numbers.
9. The personal information provided to the Commission 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.
10. 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.
11. 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 provide access to the information that was provided as part of this public process.

Availability of documents

12. Documents are also available at the following address, upon request, during normal business hours.

    
    Documentation Centre
    Examinationroom@crtc.gc.ca
    Tel.: 819-997-4389
    Fax: 819-994-0218

    Client Services
    Toll-free telephone: 1-877-249-2782
    Toll-free TTY: 1-877-909-2782

Secretary General

Date modified:

2025-06-23