NANC requests extension for Reassigned Numbers Database

In a letter dated August 14, 2019, the North American Numbering Council (NANC) formerly requested a 7-month extension to develop a technical requirements document and a report outlining the fee structure, pricing, and funding mechanism for the Reassigned Numbers Database (RND).

The RND is intended to enable organizations that place calls to first check the database to see whether the telephone number on file for the intended called party has been reassigned to someone else. If the number has been reassigned, the organization would purge the number from their call list. The new owner of that number would be spared an unwanted call.

The FCC initiated the RND project on December 12, 2018 and provided 6 months for the technical document and funding report. An extension was granted to push the due date back to September 13, 2019. This latest formal extension request would push the due date back to April 13, 2020.

In his letter, Chairman Travis Kavulla described the issues that require additional time for the Number Administration Oversight Working Group (NAOWG) to overcome:

• The NAOWG has not previously developed an industry database like this, nor the funding and pricing fee structure described in the FCC order.
• The project is complex, and the working group has been thorough in resolving details that they felt must be addressed up front.
• Although other databases of similar size and scope have been developed before, the vendors that operate them may be reluctant to assist the working group for fear that they may be disqualified from bidding on the development contract to create the RND.