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Telecom Decision CRTC 2026-167

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Gatineau, 10 July 2026

Public record: 8621-C12-01/08

CISC Canadian Steering Committee on Numbering – Consensus reports CNRE145A, CNRE157A, and CNRE158A – Non-geographic code assignment guidelines and implementation of thousand-block pooling

Summary

Telecommunications numbering resources are a finite resource and critical to our modern communications system. The growing use of non-voice services, like machine-to-machine communications (M2M) and Internet of Things (IoT) applications are increasing the demand for telephone numbers not linked to a specific geographic region.

The Commission relies on the Canadian Steering Committee on Numbering (CSCN) to provide expert advice on numbering matters within the Commission’s jurisdiction. To better support the implementation of Thousand-Block Pooling, the CSCN submitted three consensus reports to the Commission, in which it recommended the following:

In this decision, the Commission approves two of the CSCN’s recommendations from report CNRE145A and all recommendations in reports CNRE157A and CNRE158A. These recommendations will help ensure that numbering resources are managed responsibly and effectively, and that numbering guidelines accurately reflect the current state of Canada’s numbering resources.

Background

  1. The Commission administers telephone numbers and other numbering resources pursuant to section 46.1 of the Telecommunications Act. It works with various partners, including the Canadian Numbering Administrator (CNA) and the North American Numbering Plan Administrator, to organize and manage phone numbers for Canada and other countries within the North American Numbering Plan (NANP).Footnote 1
  2. The Canadian Steering Committee on Numbering (CSCN) of the CRTC Interconnection Steering Committee (CISC) manages several Canadian numbering guidelines, which provide instructions to the CNA and Canadian carriers on how to manage and use Canadian numbering resources. Canada’s CO codes, 6YY codes, and area code 600 are managed in accordance with the following Canadian numbering guidelines, respectively: the Central Office Code (NXX) Assignment Guideline (the CO Code Assignment Guideline), the Canadian Non-Geographic Code Assignment Guideline (the 6YY Assignment Guideline), and the Canadian NPA 600 NXX Code Assignment Guideline (the 600 Assignment Guideline). The CSCN recommends updates to the numbering guidelines for the Commission’s approval.
  3. In Telecom Regulatory Policy 2024-26, the Commission directed local exchange carriers and wireless carriers to implement thousand-block pooling (TBP)Footnote 2 as an important tool to conserve telephone numbers. The Commission established 6 October 2025 as the TBP implementation deadline and requested that the CSCN provide, by 6 May 2024, recommendations for strengthening numbering administration guidelines, with a focus on preserving numbering resources both during and after the implementation of TBP. The Commission also requested that the CSCN file a report by 6 August 2024 examining the inclusion of unused numbers from previously assigned CO codes to the number pooling inventory.
  4. The Commission modified the TBP implementation deadline in Telecom Decision 2025-321, when it directed the CSCN to create a schedule for phasing in TBP exchange by exchange. The first exchange would transition to TBP by 28 July 2026 and the final exchange by 28 July 2027.
  5. In Telecom Decisions 2025-224 and 2025-252, the Commission approved measures to increase the availability of non-geographic numbering resourcesFootnote 3 and to strengthen certain number assignment guidelines by introducing more frequent numbering forecasts and number usage reporting, respectively. In light of these determinations, the Commission requested that the CSCN propose, by 2 March 2026, amendments to the relevant guidelines to reflect the new measures.
  6. The CSCN filed three consensus reports proposing updates to the processes for assigning CO codes.

The reports

  1. The Commission received the following CSCN consensus reports:
    • CNRE145A – Inclusion of unused numbers from previously assigned CO codes to the number pooling inventory (6 August 2024);
    • CNRE157A – Updating the Canadian NPA 600 NXX Code Assignment and the Canadian Non-Geographic Code Assignment Guidelines (1 December 2025); and
    • CNRE158A – Proposed Initial Canadian TBCOCAG – Version 1.0 (24 December 2025).

CNRE145A

  1. In this report, the CSCN presented a series of recommendations in response to the Commission’s requests set out in Telecom Regulatory Policy 2024-26. In particular, the report recommended a phased, exchange-by-exchange rollout of TBP that would include voluntary block donations from in-service CO codes, on the basis that this approach would improve TBP numbering efficiency while minimizing unnecessary risks. A breakdown of the specific recommendations contained in this report and their status can be found in the appendix to this decision.
  2. On 10 October 2024, the Commission published Telecom Decision 2024-239, in which it denied an application to review and vary Telecom Regulatory Policy 2024-26. Following this decision, the CSCN debated the continued relevance and validity of report CNRE145A and concluded that most of the recommendations in the report were no longer required. The recommendations to adapt numbering management would be captured by the new Thousand-Block Central Office Code Assignment Guideline (TBCOCAG) proposed in report CNRE158A,Footnote 4 should it be approved, and those related to a phased TBP rollout were superseded by Telecom Decision 2025-321.
  3. Only two of the CSCN’s recommendations in report CNRE145A remained relevant. These two recommendations proposed amendments to Telecom Decision 2007-23.Footnote 5 In these two recommendations, the CSCN proposed to adapt this obligation for a TBP environment. Specifically, it recommended that Type I and II competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs), including wireless service providers, be required to acquire at least one thousand-block and location routing number (LRN) for each local interconnection region where they provide local service, rather than acquire a full CO code.

Commission’s analysis

  1. The Commission is of the view that these two recommendations will align the numbering resource requirements for CLECs entering new markets within a TBP environment.
  2. In Telecom Decision 2025-321, the Commission directed the CSCN to develop a year-long exchange-by-exchange schedule for the phased implementation of TBP. The Commission notes that, beginning in July 2026, the implementation of the recommendations outlined above will vary for each exchange, in accordance with the phased transition to TBP.
  3. Additionally, the Commission notes that certain processes and guidelines will need to be modified to reflect the requirement for Type I and Type II CLECs, which include wireless service providers, to acquire at least one thousand-block and LRN for each local interconnection region where they provide local service.

CNRE157A

  1. In this report, the CSCN recommended amendments to the non-geographic (6YY) Assignment GuidelineFootnote 6 and the 600 Assignment GuidelineFootnote 7 in light of the Commission’s approval of a 1+14 digit format for 6YY numbers in Telecom Decision 2025-335.
  2. Regarding the 6YY Assignment Guideline, the CSCN recommended making previously unassignable CO codes (555,Footnote 8 211, 311, 411, 511, 611, 711, and 811), along with certain ranges from area code 600, available for assignment in all non-geographic area codes. The CSCN also recommended modifying the guideline to reflect the Commission’s determination that future non-geographic area codes 677 and 688 be reserved for implementing the expanded 1+14 6YY format.
  3. Regarding the 600 Assignment Guideline, the CSCN recommended defining specific ranges of CO codes covered by this guideline to reduce the number of CO codes available for assignment within area code 600. The CSCN also recommended transferring the remaining CO codes in that area code to the pool of available resources covered by the 6YY Assignment Guideline.
  4. Additionally, the CSCN recommended that both guidelines specify that 6YY and 600 codes should not be entered into the Business Integrated Routing and Rating Database System (BIRRDS).Footnote 9 It explained that doing so would prolong the implementation of the recommendations in this report and the transition to the 1+14 6YY format.

Commission’s analysis

  1. The Commission is of the view that the CSCN’s proposed amendments to the 6YY Assignment Guideline and the 600 Assignment Guideline will reflect the Commission’s determinations and requests outlined in Telecom Decision 2025-224.
  2. Specifically, in that, the CNA was directed by 2 March 2026 to:


    (a) designate 768 CO codes in area code 600 as non-geographic;

    (b) eliminate the restriction on the assignment of 555 and N11Footnote 10 codes 211, 311, 411, 511, 611, 711, and 811 in all non-geographic area codes; and

    (c) reserve area codes 677 and 688 for future implementation of an expanded numbering format using additional digits.

  3. The CSCN was also requested to amend the CO Code Assignment Guideline, the 6YY Assignment Guideline, and the 600 Assignment Guideline to reflect the Commission’s directions in items (a) and (b).
  4. With regard to the CSCN’s proposal to exclude non-geographic codes from BIRRDS, the Commission notes that the BIRRDS database is used by telecommunications service providers to share information regarding the routing and rating of calls. The database mostly concerns the activation of geographic numbering resources that have been assigned to the public switched telephone network. Because of this, the Commission considers that entering non-geographic number information into the BIRRDS database is unnecessary and requests that this be reflected in the 6YY Assignment Guideline and the 600 Assignment Guideline.

CNRE158A

  1. In this report, the CSCN submitted that the modifications requested in Telecom Decision 2025-252 to the Canadian Numbering Resource Utilization Forecast Guideline and the CO Code Assignment Guideline, including the latter’s audit appendix and forms, will be presented in a subsequent report because the changes are still being developed.
  2. The CSCN also submitted version 1.0 of the Canadian TBCOCAG, which is intended to replace the current CO Code Assignment Guideline and includes guidelines for assigning both CO codes and thousand blocks. The CSCN explained that the new version of the TBCOCAG reflects the process for assigning thousand blocks and that, in some instances, the process for assigning CO codes was modified to align with the thousand-block assignment process.
  3. Accordingly, the CSCN recommended that the Commission approve the new Canadian TBCOCAG, either temporarily or permanently, before TBP is implemented in the first exchanges on 28 July 2026.

Commission’s analysis

  1. On 16 June 2026, the Commission issued a letterFootnote 11 notifying the CSCN that the TBCOCAG guideline proposed in CNRE158A has been approved.
  2. The Commission is of the view that the new proposed Canadian TBCOCAG is appropriate for the transition to TBP because it will provide the CNA and the industry with a framework for effectively managing CO codes and thousand-block pools in a TBP environment.
  3. In Telecom Decision 2025-252, the Commission also requested that the CSCN file, by 26 March 2026, a report with recommendations for new number usage reporting requirements for the audit appendix and forms of the CO Code Assignment Guideline. The Commission recently approved the suspension of this report by way of a letter, following the issuance of Telecom Notice of Consultation 2026-61, in which comments were sought on potential new measures to improve the management of telephone numbers and increase accountability for their use. The Commission therefore considers that the request does not currently apply.

Conclusion

  1. The Commission considers that the CSCN’s recommendations in consensus reports CNRE145A, CNRE157A, and CNRE158A reflect the Commission’s determinations and requests in Telecom Decisions 2025-224 and 2025-252. Therefore, the Commission:
    • approves the proposed requirement for Type I and II CLECs and wireless service providers to have or acquire at least one thousand-block and an LRN for every local interconnection region where they provide local service, effective the date of TBP implementation in each exchange, as set out in CNRE145A. The Commission also requests that CISC amend the relevant process documentation and numbering guidelines accordingly and file them with the Commission within six months of this decision;
    • approves the proposed changes to the 600 Assignment Guideline and the 6YY Assignment Guideline as set out in CNRE157A; and
    • approves the new Canadian TBCOCAG as set out in CNRE158A.

Secretary General

Appendix to Telecom Decision CRTC 2026-167

Status of changes recommended by the Canadian Steering Committee on Numbering (CSCN) in CNRE145A

Recommendation Description Status
Recommendation 1 The CSCN recommends that the Commission approve a maximum of 10% contamination as a block donation criterion for the return of blocks by carriers as directed in Telecom Regulatory Policy 2024-26. Captured in Section 7 – Reclamations of the Thousand-Block Central Office Code Assignment Guideline (TBCOCAG) proposed in CNRE158A.
Recommendation 2 The CSCN recommends that the Commission:


(i) direct local exchange carriers (LECs) and wireless carriers to implement a phased approach to thousand-block pooling (TBP) based on groups of exchange areas; and

(ii) requests that the CRTC Interconnection Steering Committee (CISC) propose the exchange areas to be included in the initial rollout within six months of the directive regarding this report.

Superseded by Telecom Decision 2025-321, in which the Commission approved a phased, exchange-by-exchange implementation of TBP, with the first exchange to transition by 28 July 2026 and the final exchange by 29 July 2027.
Recommendation 3 The CSCN recommends that the Commission direct local exchange carriers and wireless carriers to adopt a voluntary block donation process as part of the initial implementation of TBP. Captured in Section 7 – Reclamations of the TBCOCAG proposed in CNRE158A.
Recommendation 4 The CSCN recommends that the Commission request CISC to modify the Central Office Code (NXX) Assignment Guideline to indicate that blocks not put into service within six months of assignment be subject to reclamation, by six months prior to the TBP implementation date. Captured in Section 6 – Responsibilities of Code/Block Applicants and Code/Block Holders of the TBCOCAG proposed in CNRE158A.
Recommendation 5 The CSCN recommends that the Commission request CISC to modify number porting process documentation to reflect the revised snap-back process to accommodate TBP by six months prior to the TBP implementation date. Captured in Section 7 – Reclamations of the TBCOCAG proposed in CNRE158A.
Recommendation 6 The CSCN recommends that the Commission request that CISC amend process documentation and the numbering guidelines to reflect that, effective the date of TBP implementation, Type I & II competitive local exchange carriers must acquire at least one thousand-block and establish a location routing number (LRN), either by obtaining a footprint central office (CO) code or by acquiring a facilitated LRN from a third party, in every local interconnection region in which they offer local service. Addressed in this decision.
Recommendation 7 The CSCN recommends that the Commission request that CISC amend process documentation and the numbering guidelines to reflect that, effective the date of TBP implementation, wireless service providers must acquire at least one thousand-block and establish an LRN, either by obtaining a footprint CO code or by acquiring a facilitated LRN from a third party in every local calling area in which they offer wireless service. Addressed in this decision.

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