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Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2026-88

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Gatineau, 14 May 2026

Public record: 8621-C12-01/08

Establishment of a CISC ad hoc committee for relief planning for area codes 368, 403, 587, 780, and 825 in Alberta

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 368, 403, 587, 780, and 825 in Alberta. The Commission invites members of the public and telecommunications service providers to participate in the RPC’s activities.

Through this routine notice, as well as through other efforts such as thousand-block pooling, the Commission continues to ensure that Canada’s inventory of telephone numbers is managed responsibly to the benefit of all Canadians.

Introduction

  1. On 25 March 2026, the Canadian Numbering Administrator (CNA) advised the Commission that, based on the results of the latest numbering resource utilization forecast (NRUF), area codes 368, 403, 587, 780, and 825 are projected to exhaust by February 2029. These area codes cover the province of Alberta. 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).
  4. While thousand-block pooling is expected to help with number conservation, routine relief planning exercises conducted in accordance with relevant numbering guidelines will continue to play an important role in responsible and effective numbering management.

RPC for area codes 368, 403, 587, 780, and 825

  1. With this notice, the Commission establishes the ad hoc RPC for area codes 368, 403, 587, 780, and 825 (the 368/403/587/780/825 RPC) under CISC and directs the CNA to chair this committee.
  2. The scope of the 368/403/587/780/825 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 368, 403, 587, 780, and 825. Area code relief planning does not affect local or long-distance calling patterns or rates. Accordingly, these issues are outside the scope of the 368/403/587/780/825 RPC’s relief planning activities.
  3. In rendering its decision on the relief measures to be adopted, the Commission will consider all relief options recommended by the 368/403/587/780/825 RPC.

Procedure

  1. The Commission establishes the 368/403/587/780/825 RPC as a consultative body open to members of the public. The CNA is to announce the location and time of the 368/403/587/780/825 RPC’s meetings and is to make all related documentation available on its website. Members of the public who wish to participate in the 368/403/587/780/825 RPC’s activities may also reach the CNA by telephone at 613-702-0016.

Important notice

  1. All information that is provided to the Commission in relation to this notice, 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. The information provided to the Commission as part of this process is entered into an unsearchable database dedicated to this specific process. This database is accessible only from the web page of this particular 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 process.

Availability of documents

  1. 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

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