National Pooling Administrator
Tools - Archives, Quarterly Tip - 2019 - January

Quarterly Pooling Tip – January 2019 - Supplemental


----- Supplemental Quarterly Pooling Tip for January -----

Commonly Found Mistakes with Part 4 Submissions 

The PA and NANPA have noticed an increase in Part 4s submitted in error, therefore we
are providing this tip to address the commonly found errors and how to avoid it.
  1. Type of Error: The pooled NXX code is not loaded in the NPAC. 

    Correction for Error 1: Verify that the pooled NXXcode (NPA-NXX) has been loaded in the NPAC prior to submitting the Part 4 form.

     

  2. Type of Error: The CO Code is not built in BIRRDS.

    Correction for Error 2: Verify that the CO Code (NPA-NXX) has been built in BIRRDS by the Code Holder prior to submitting the Part 4 form.

  3. Type of Error: Default Routing is not in place or working.

Correction for Error 3: Place a test call to ensure the call routes in the PSTN.

 

Part 4 Obligations

 

Below is additional information to review to determine when a Part 4 should be submitted.

Per the Thousands-Block Number (NXX-X) Pooling Administrator Guidelines (TBPAG):

 

  • Per section 8.3.11, “A thousands-block assigned to an SP should be placed in service by the applicable activation deadline, that is, six months after the original effective date returned on the Part 3 and entered on the BCD/BCR screen in BIRRDS. Confirmation that the block has been placed in service is mandatory. If the PA does not receive the Part 4 – Confirmation of NXX-X Block In Service, the PA will start the reclamation process within 60 calendar days of the expiration of the applicable activation deadline by referring instances of unactivated thousands-blocks to the relevant state commission (see Section 9.1.3). If the SP identifies that it will not meet the activation deadline, due to circumstances beyond its control, the SP may request an extension from the state commission.”. 

 

  • In Service is defined as, “a code or block for which local routing information appears in the LERG Routing Guide, and one or more telephone numbers within the NXX code or NXX-X block has been Assigned to an end user (FCC 00-104, ¶240). Numbers that are categorized as Administrative, Aging, Intermediate, Reserved, or Available cannot also be Assigned and do not satisfy the In Service requirement.”

 

Per FCC 15-70: “Numbers provided to carriers, interconnected VoIP providers or other non-carrier entities by numbering partners should be reported as “intermediate,” and do not qualify as “end users” or “customers.” (FCC 15-70, ¶32)”. Based on this clarification, Intermediate Numbers may only be reported as Assigned Numbers when those numbers have been assigned to an “end user” or “customer” by the receiving carrier.  


Below are the definitions of Assigned Numbers and Intermediate Number from the TBPAG for reference.

 

  • Assigned Numbers is defined as “Assigned numbers are numbers working in the PSTN under an agreement such as a contract or tariff at the request of specific end users or customers for their use, or numbers not yet working but having a customer service order pending. Numbers that are not yet working and have a service order pending for more than five calendar days shall not be classified as assigned numbers. (FCC 00-104 §52.15 (f)(1) (iii)) Ported-out numbers should be included as a subcategory of assigned numbers. (FCC 00-104 ¶ 36).”
  • Intermediate Numbers are numbers that are made available for use by another telecommunications carrier or non-carrier entity for the purpose of providing telecommunications service to an end user or customer.  Numbers ported for the purpose of transferring an established customer’s service to another service provider shall not be classified as intermediate numbers (47 CFR § 52.15 (f) (1) (v)). Numbers such as dealer number pools should be included as a subcategory of intermediate numbers (FCC 00-104 ¶ 36). An “intermediate” number is one that is made available to a carrier or non-carrier entity from another carrier, but has not necessarily been assigned to an end-user or customer by the receiving carrier or non-carrier entity (FCC 15-70 ¶30). Numbers provided to carriers, interconnected VoIP providers, or other non-carrier entities by numbering partners should be reported as “intermediate,” and do not qualify as “end users” or “customers” (FCC 15-70, ¶32).


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