[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: 47CFR52.31]

[Page 98-99]
 
                       TITLE 47--TELECOMMUNICATION
 
        CHAPTER I--FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (CONTINUED)
 
PART 52_NUMBERING--Table of Contents
 
                      Subpart C_Number Portability
 
Sec.  52.31  Deployment of long-term database methods for number portability 
by CMRS providers.

    (a) By November 24, 2003, all covered CMRS providers must provide a 
long-term database method for number portability, including the ability 
to support roaming, in the 100 largest MSAs, as defined in Sec.  
52.21(k), in compliance with the performance criteria set forth in 
section 52.23(a) of this part, in switches for which another carrier has 
made a specific request for the provision of number portability, subject 
to paragraph (a)(1) of this section. A licensee may have more than one 
CMRS system, but only the systems that satisfy the definition of covered 
CMRS are required to provide number portability.
    (1) Any procedure to identify and request switches for development 
of number portability must comply with the following criteria:
    (i) Any wireline carrier that is certified (or has applied for 
certification) to provide local exchange service in a state, or any 
licensed CMRS provider, must be permitted to make a request for 
deployment of number portability in that state;
    (ii) Carries requesting deployment in the 100 largest MSAs by 
November 24, 2003 must submit requests by February 24, 2003.
    (iii) A covered CMRS provider must make available upon request to 
any interested parties a list of its switches for which number 
portability has been requested and a list of its switches for which 
number portability has not been requested;
    (iv) After November 24, 2003, a covered CMRS provider must deploy 
number portability in additional switches serving the 100 largest MSAs 
upon request within the following time frames:
    (A) For remote switches supported by a host switch equipped for 
portability (``Equipped Remote Switches''), within 30 days;
    (B) For switches that require software but not hardware changes to 
provide portability (``Hardware Capable Switches''), within 60 days;
    (C) For switches that require hardware changes to provide 
portability (``Capable Switches Requiring Hardware''), within 180 days; 
and
    (D) For switches not capable of portability that must be replaced 
(``Non-Capable Switches''), within 180 days.
    (v) Carriers must be able to request deployment in any wireless 
switch that serves any area within the MSA, even if the wireless switch 
is outside that MSA, or outside any of the MSAs identified in the 
Appendix to this part.
    (2) By November 24, 2002, all covered CMRS providers must be able to 
support roaming nationwide.
    (b) By December 31, 1998, all covered CMRS providers must have the 
capability to obtain routing information, either by querying the 
appropriate

[[Page 99]]

database themselves or by making arrangements with other carriers that 
are capable of performing database queries, so that they can deliver 
calls from their networks to any party that has retained its number 
after switching from one telecommunications carrier to another.
    (c) The Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, may waive or stay 
any of the dates in the implementation schedule, as the Chief determines 
is necessary to ensure the efficient development of number portability, 
for a period not to exceed 9 months (i.e., no later than September 30, 
1999, for the deadline in paragraph (b) of this section, and no later 
than March 31, 2000, for the deadline in paragraph (a) of this section).
    (d) In the event a carrier subject to paragraphs (a) and (b) of this 
section is unable to meet the Commission's deadlines for implementing a 
long-term number portability method, it may file with the Commission at 
least 60 days in advance of the deadline a petition to extend the time 
by which implementation in its network will be completed. A carrier 
seeking such relief must demonstrate through substantial, credible 
evidence the basis for its contention that it is unable to comply with 
paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section. Such requests must set forth:
    (1) The facts that demonstrate why the carrier is unable to meet our 
deployment schedule;
    (2) A detailed explanation of the activities that the carrier has 
undertaken to meet the implementation schedule prior to requesting an 
extension of time;
    (3) An identification of the particular switches for which the 
extension is requested;
    (4) The time within which the carrier will complete deployment in 
the affected switches; and
    (5) A proposed schedule with milestones for meeting the deployment 
date.
    (e) The Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, may establish 
reporting requirements in order to monitor the progress of covered CMRS 
providers implementing number portability, and may direct such carriers 
to take any actions necessary to ensure compliance with this deployment 
schedule.

[61 FR 38637, July 25, 1996, as amended at 62 FR 18295, Apr. 15, 1997; 
63 FR 68204, Dec. 10, 1998; 64 FR 22563, Apr. 27, 1999; 68 FR 43009, 
July 21, 2003]