The first meeting of the Indiana number portability task force
was held from 9:30 am to 2:30 p.m. in Room E306 on July 11, 1996.
Stan Saltier and Mike Guffey from the IURC Staff provided the
agenda and the opening statements (Attachment A) which consisted
of a reference to the number portability requirements in the Telecommunications
Act of 1996 (TA 96) in SEC 251(b)(2) and the Commission Order
in Cause No. 39983 dated July 1, 1996 (Attachment B).
We reviewed our mission statement and revised it as follows:
The task force shall have the limited authority to meet how and
when it chooses with a final report and recommendation to be presented
to the Commission on technological issues related to long term
number portability and the associated cost of each technology
on or before November 8, 1996.
Per the Commission order, cost recovery and allocation issues
will not be addressed in this task force
A list of the meeting attendees is included as Attachment C.
Terry Appenzeller, the Ameritech VP-Open Market Strategy, provided
a brief overview of the FCC's recent order on number portability
This presentation included the:
1. Architecture Selection Criteria
2. Deployment Schedule
3. Carriers Mandated to implement
4. Neutral Third Party Database Administration
5 National Field Trial
6. Tie-In to Competitive Checklist
7. Guidelines For interim Number Portability Pricing
8. Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking-Long-Term Number Portability
Mr. Appenzeller pointed out that LRN is the architecture of choice
by the industry and many states. It meets the minimum performance
criteria (including the efficient use of numbers, no unreasonable
degradation in service, quality, or network reliability, and does
not require end users to change telephone numbers). Deployment
in the top 100 US MSAs will begin in 4Q97 with completion by the
end of 1998. After that time each LEC must make long-term number
portability available in smaller MSAs within SIX months after
a specific request. The order requires incumbent LECs as well
as new entrants to comply (rural telephone companies can apply
for an exemption (per SEC 251(f) of TA 96). Wireless providers
must comply by June 30, 1999. A neutral third party database administrator
must be selected and Illinois will conduct a field trial to conclude
no later than August 31 1997. Comments for the further notice
of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) are due August 16, with replies
due September 16, 1996.
A complete copy of the presentation is included as Attachment
D
Mr. Appenzeller gave us an overview of the Illinois number portability
workshop process. The ICC workshop was formed in April, 1995 as
a result of an order on the Customers First Plan. It consists
of two phases: (1) develop, evaluate, and recommend a wireline
service provider number portability solution and propose an implementation
plan and (2) to explore the desirability and feasibility of expanding
to wireless networks, location portability, service portability,
and other enhancements. Up to this point the workshop has concentrated
on Phase 1 and service provider portability (the ability to change
providers without changing telephone numbers). A joint letter
which was signed by eight companies was sent to the FCC in May,
1996 encouraging the FCC to adopt the Illinois workshop findings
and conclusions which includes the selection of LRN and the recommendation
for the FCC to adopt a single national architecture. Mr. Appenzeller
reviewed the long term number portability selection criteria and
the call flows for both interim and long term number portability.
The Illinois workshop structure, timelines, and future plans were
reviewed. Illinois participants have looked at cost recovery issues,
with no conclusion at this time.
1. For the top 100 MSAs, the Indiana long term number workshop
participants will identify what offices within the MSAs they want
long term number portability.
Action item 1: All participants should review the presentation
material and confirm the adoption of the Illinois workshop conclusions
(LRN and subcommittee input).
Action item 2: Ameritech, GTE, and United will get their
MSA information to Stan Sallier to be mailed prior to the next
meeting.
The next meeting will be Friday August 16.1996 from 9:30-12:00
in Room E306 at the Commission's office in Indianapolis.
It has been recommended that business casual attire is appropriate
for these meetings.
Meeting participants agreed that note taking responsibility will be rotated among participating companies. Notes for this meeting were prepared by Ameritech.