28981.doc

BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NUMBERING PLAN ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE APPROVAL OF NUMBERING PLAN AREA RELIEF FOR THE 208 AREA CODE. )
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CASE NO. GNR-T-00-36

SUSPENSION OF FILING
DEADLINE

ORDER NO.  28981
On November 9, 2000, NeuStar - the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (Administrator or NANPA) – filed a petition requesting the Commission approve a plan to add a new area code to the existing Idaho 208 Numbering Plan Area (NPA). In December 2001, the Commission found that Idaho does not need a new area code if the requisite tools (e.g., number pooling) are made available to the Commission so that it can conserve existing telephone numbers before the projected exhaust date. Order No. 28902. In the event that Idaho is not permitted to timely optimize its existing telephone numbers, the Commission found it appropriate to geographically split Idaho into three regions. Id. Given that it has the shortest projected exhaust and the fastest growth rate, the Commission ordered that the southwestern region retain the 208 area code while northern and southeastern Idaho each receive new area codes. Id.
Last May, the NANPA notified the Commission that the 208 area code would likely exhaust in the third quarter, 2003. At that time, approximately 60 prefixes had been assigned from May 2000 through April 2001 - an average of 5 per month. However, from May 2001 through January 2002, only 18 prefixes were assigned - an average of 2 per month. Moreover, approximately 36 prefixes were returned in this time period.
In anticipation of implementing area code relief, the Commission ordered the Telecommunications Industry, NANPA and Staff to develop and file a comprehensive education program, individual carrier public education plans, and a schedule for permissive and mandatory dialing with the Commission by April 1, 2002. Order No. 28902 at 17 and Order No. 28924 at 14. However, decreasing demand for prefixes combined with the Commission’s reclamation efforts will likely postpone the NANPA’s projected exhaust date for area code 208 and thus postpone the necessary implementation deadlines that precede area code relief. Therefore, we find it appropriate to postpone the April 1, 2002 filing deadline established in Order Nos. 28902 and 28924 pending an updated 208 exhaust projection from NANPA. Once we have the benefit of this forecast, the Commission will issue an Order addressing implementation and public education timeframes at a future date.
O R D E R
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the April 1, 2002 filing deadline established in Order Nos. 28902 and 28924 shall be suspended indefinitely pending an updated 208 exhaust projection from NANPA.
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho, this
day of March 2002.

PAUL KJELLANDER, PRESIDENT

MARSHA H. SMITH, COMMISSIONER

DENNIS S. HANSEN, COMMISSIONER

ATTEST:

Jean D. Jewell
Commission Secretary

O:GNRT0036_ln5

SUSPENSION OF FILING DEADLINE
ORDER NO. 28981 1

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
March 19, 2002