gjt@pacbell.uucp (06/21/89)
Patrick, As promised, here is some information I recently came across concerning the North American Numbering Plan (NANP). I received it via a presentation and subsequent discussion with a Bell Communications Research (Bellcore) employee whose job is supporting the NANP. The NANP ensures sufficient numbering resources are available for World Zone 1 (the United States, Canada, Bermuda, and many Caribbean Basin Nations). Current activities the NANP is working on involve: Numbering Plan Areas (NPAs), Carrier Identification Codes (CICs), 800 Service, ISDN Numbering, 900 NXX Code Assignments, Cellular Dialing Review, Numbering Resources for International Inbound Traffic, Numbering Strategic Planning, and a few other areas. Involving NPAs, the following are major work areas: - Central Office Code Utilization Survey (COCUS) - NPA Code Exhaust Plans This is the "short-term" planning for NPA codes that are nearing exhaustion. This includes utilizing previously unused Central Office Codes, 1+ dialing, etc. - NPA Overlay This is the planning for new NPA code assigning, of which only "5" still exist in the N 0/1 X format. These are expected to be completely exhausted by 1995. - Recovery of Mexico Codes Mexico never has been part of World Zone 1, so its use of NPAs has never been part of the NANP (as opposed to Canada, which has as much right to NPAs in WZ1 as the US). Thus, the NPAs assigned to Mexico are being recovered as part of the NPA Overlay. - 809 NPA Administration As the West Indies are very diverse, geographically and politically, the NANP serves as an impartial body in "governing" administration of this NPA. - Interchangeable NPA Code Implementation This is the after-1995 planning for implementing NPAs with NXX format. An interesting point is the Carrier Identification Codes (CICs) are also running out, so the NANP is beginning planning away from the 10XXX to various different choices (101XXXX, 10XXXXX or 10XXXX are all possibilities). The ultimate choice, and the transition to get there are all still being discussed. As a final note, the NANP is only responsible for NPAs. It shares responsibility with many other groups in the total number assigning arena. - Local Exchange Carriers are responsible for assigning Central Office codes and station numbers - Other entities with assigned Central Office codes (e.g., cellular carriers) assign station numbers - Interexchange Carriers - All codes within 700 Special Access Code; station numbers within assigned SAC-NXX codes - Committee T1 and other ANSI Accredited Standards Organizations resolve technical standards issues. - CCITT handles international numbering standards - Industry Carriers Compatibility Forum (ICCF) addresses technical issues requiring industry consensus I am sure the above will raise as many questions as it has answered (I know I had quite a few when I was listening to the presentation). I believe the above is correct, but welcome any corrections anybody may offer. My ability to follow up on this material is limited, but I will do the best I can. Hopefully, through some of the intelligence contained in this newsgroups' readership, the correct answers can be flushed out. Guy Tonti Pacific Bell ...pacbell!pbhyg!gjt Disclaimer: The above are the views of the author, and are not intended to represent those of my employer. I state my employer solely for identification purposes.