[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 47, Volume 3]
[Revised as of October 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 47CFR52.21]

[Page 93-94]
 
                       TITLE 47--TELECOMMUNICATION
 
        CHAPTER I--FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (CONTINUED)
 
PART 52_NUMBERING--Table of Contents
 
                      Subpart C_Number Portability
 
Sec.  52.21  Definitions.

    As used in this subpart:
    (a) The term 100 largest MSAs includes the 100 largest MSAs as 
identified in the 1990 U.S. Census reports, as set forth in the Appendix 
to this part, as well as those areas identified as one of the largest 
100 MSAs on subsequent updates to the U.S. Census reports.
    (b) The term broadband PCS has the same meaning as that term is 
defined in Sec.  24.5 of this chapter.
    (c) The term cellular service has the same meaning as that term is 
defined in Sec.  22.99 of this chapter.
    (d) The term covered CMRS means broadband PCS, cellular, and 800/900 
MHz SMR licensees that hold geographic area licenses or are incumbent 
SMR wide area licensees, and offer real-time, two-way switched voice 
service, are interconnected with the public switched network, and 
utilize an in-network switching facility that enables such CMRS systems 
to reuse frequencies and accomplish seamless hand-offs of subscriber 
calls.
    (e) The term database method means a number portability method that 
utilizes one or more external databases for providing called party 
routing information.
    (f) The term downstream database means a database owned and operated 
by an individual carrier for the purpose of providing number portability 
in conjunction with other functions and services.
    (g) The term incumbent wide area SMR licensee has the same meaning 
as that term is defined in Sec.  20.3 of this chapter.
    (h) The term local exchange carrier means any person that is engaged 
in the provision of telephone exchange service or exchange access. For 
purposes of this subpart, such term does not include a person insofar as 
such person is engaged in the provision of a commercial mobile service 
under 47 U.S.C. 332(c).
    (i) The term local number portability administrator (LNPA) means an 
independent, non-governmental entity, not aligned with any particular 
telecommunications industry segment, whose duties are determined by the 
NANC.

[[Page 94]]

    (j) The term location portability means the ability of users of 
telecommunications services to retain existing telecommunications 
numbers without impairment of quality, reliability, or convenience when 
moving from one physical location to another.
    (k) The term long-term database method means a database method that 
complies with the performance criteria set forth in Sec.  52.3(a).
    (l) The term number portability means the ability of users of 
telecommunications services to retain, at the same location, existing 
telecommunications numbers without impairment of quality, reliability, 
or convenience when switching from one telecommunications carrier to 
another.
    (m) The term regional database means an SMS database or an SMS/SCP 
pair that contains information necessary for carriers to provide number 
portability in a region as determined by the NANC.
    (n) The term service control point (SCP) means a database in the 
public switched network which contains information and call processing 
instructions needed to process and complete a telephone call. The 
network switches access an SCP to obtain such information. Typically, 
the information contained in an SCP is obtained from the SMS.
    (o) The term service management system (SMS) means a database or 
computer system not part of the public switched network that, among 
other things:
    (1) Interconnects to an SCP and sends to that SCP the information 
and call processing instructions needed for a network switch to process 
and complete a telephone call; and
    (2) Provides telecommunications carriers with the capability of 
entering and storing data regarding the processing and completing of a 
telephone call.
    (p) The term service portability means the ability of users of 
telecommunications services to retain existing telecommunications 
numbers without impairment of quality, reliability, or convenience when 
switching from one telecommunications service to another, without 
switching from one telecommunications carrier to another.
    (q) The term service provider portability means the ability of users 
of telecommunications services to retain, at the same location, existing 
telecommunications numbers without impairment of quality, reliability, 
or convenience when switching from one telecommunications carrier to 
another.
    (r) The term transitional number portability measure means a method 
that allows one local exchange carrier to transfer telephone numbers 
from its network to the network of another telecommunications carrier, 
but does not comply with the performance criteria set forth in 52.3(a). 
Transitional number portability measures are technically feasible 
methods of providing number portability including Remote Call Forwarding 
(RCF), Direct Inward Dialing (DID), Route Indexing--Portability Hub (RI-
PH), Directory Number Route Indexing (DNRI) and other comparable 
methods.

[61 FR 38637, July 25, 1996. Redesignated at 61 FR 47353, Sept. 6, 1996, 
as amended at 61 FR 47355, Sept. 6, 1996; 63 FR 68203, Dec. 10, 1998; 67 
FR 6435, Feb. 12, 2002; 68 FR 43009, July 21, 2003]