ALTS Asks FCC To Reconsider Numbering Resources Rules; Recent Rules Overlook Unavoidable Delays.

Business Editors/Hi-Tech Writers

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 17, 2000

The Association for Local Telecommunications Services (ALTS) today asked the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to reconsider and clarify recently issued rules on Numbering Resources Optimization.

According to ALTS, FCC rules adopted on March 31 would have a disproportionate impact on competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs), contrary to the Commission's policy of "ensuring that no class of carrier or consumer is unduly favored or disfavored by its optimization efforts."

"We support efforts to ease the numbering crisis," said John D. Windhausen, Jr., President of ALTS. "But most of the FCC measures fail to take into account the unique burdens that competitors face."

As an example, Windhausen cited the requirement that a carrier must activate an NXX code within 60 days or the code would be reclaimed. When a new carrier is establishing service in a rate area and requesting an NXX code for the first time, the carrier may be faced with unavoidable delays beyond 60 days. CLECs are at the mercy of the incumbents for trunks, access tandems, and other essentials necessary to begin service.

"New carriers have every incentive to put codes in service as soon as possible," said Tiki Gaugler, Regulatory Attorney for ALTS. "They need to begin providing service to earn returns on their investments. If the incumbents don't provide the necessary facilities in time, it's the CLECs who draw penalties."

ALTS also asked the FCC to reconsider its rules that customers may reserve numbers for only 45 days with no extension and that carriers may hold numbers in pending status awaiting installation for only 5 days. While ALTS agrees with the need to have some time limits on these number categories, certain customers have legitimate needs for reservations that cannot be met with a 45-day reservation, and circumstances beyond the carrier's control may prevent installation within the 5-day pending period. Large users and institutions, such as government and university users, depend on access to blocks of reserved numbers to meet complex telecommunications needs, ALTS said. ALTS recently joined several carriers in asking the FCC for a stay of the 45-day reservation limit.

ALTS also requested the FCC reconsider and clarify how utilization levels are to be calculated, arguing that all numbers already in use for any purpose, not just those assigned to customers, should be included in that calculation. These levels should be calculated on a rate center basis since that is basis for number allocation, and carriers should be allowed to provide additional proof of need if the adopted utilization threshold is not met, ALTS said.

ALTS is the leading national industry association whose mission is to promote facilities-based local telecommunications competition. Created in 1987, ALTS has offices in Washington, D. C. and Irvine, California and now represents more than 200 companies that build, own, and operate competitive local networks. For more information on ALTS, contact Crawford Public Relations at 703/318-5460 or visit the ALTS web site at www.alts.org.