FCC responds to NANC delay on Reassigned Numbers Database

The FCC Consumer and Government Affairs Bureau and Wireline Competition Bureau responded to the NANC request for another delay on the Reassigned Numbers Database (RND) project. They granted a part, but not all, of what the NANC requested.

On August 14, 2019, the North American Numbering Council (NANC) requested a 7-month extension on behalf of the Number Administration Oversight Working Group (NAOWG) tasked with this project. In their request, the NANC said that:

  • The NAOWG hasn’t developed an industry database like this before
  • The project is complex and requires a thorough approach
  • Vendors with experience in such projects are reluctant to assist for fear they may be disqualified from bidding on the project.

Somos, the U.S. toll-free number administrator, filed an ex parte response to the NANC request. Somos thought the delay was unwarranted for these reasons:

  • Keeping the original timeline is in the public interest
  • The RND is not a difficult database to set up
  • The Technical Requirements Document need not be very technical.

FCC response

The Commission reasserted that it is their policy that extensions are not routinely granted. However, they felt that it’s important for the NAOWG to develop a complete set of technical recommendations.

For these reasons, the FCC granted:

  • Four-month extension, until January 13, 2020, for the Technical Requirements Document
  • Five-month extension, until February 13, 2020, for recommendations for fee structure and pricing.

In response to the Somos filing, the Commission made the following points:

  • The Commission accepts the NAOWG’s assertion that the project is complex
  • Preparing a detailed Technical Requirement Document will benefit procurement
  • Outsourcing remaining technical issues to bidders would require bidders to speculate on matters the NANC had not yet addressed.

However, the Commission agreed with Somos that the NANC should not need seven months. Four should be plenty for the Technical Requirements Document and five for the fee structure and pricing recommendations.

FCC grants some but not all of the NANC requested delay