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Area Code Relief - Relief Planning Process
What is the planning process to establish a new area code? The NANPA is responsible for assigning new NXX codes to telecommunications providers, monitoring the usage of NXX codes within an area code and for forecasting when an area code will most likely exhaust and require the implementation of an additional area code. The NANPA notifies the appropriate state regulatory commission, as well as the telecommunications industry, three years in advance of when an area code is expected to run out of new NXX codes. The planning process begins with NANPA and the telecommunications industry meeting to identify viable relief solutions. When developing and evaluating area code relief plans, the telecommunications industry is required to follow the regulations established by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and state regulatory commissions, as well as established industry guidelines. Once all of the reasonable alternatives have been identified, industry representatives strive to reach consensus on the most efficient relief plan for the area as a whole. The proposed plan, along with industry’s recommendation, is then submitted to the state regulatory commission for consideration. Who decides how to implement the new area code? The FCC has broad jurisdiction over telephone number issues, while the NANPA manages the administration and assignment of area codes in the United States. However, the FCC has given each state the authority to determine how to introduce new area codes. In Wisconsin, the PSC makes these decisions. The decision for the PSC is not whether to do area code relief (a new area code must be introduced once an area code approaches exhaust), but how to implement it. What are the methods used to provide area code relief? The two methods of relief are a geographic area code split or an overlay. Both methods of area code relief have been successfully implemented in various parts of the country.
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