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Telecom Public Notice 2005-1
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Ottawa, 28 January 2005 |
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Expansion of 10-digit local dialing in 450 region
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Reference:
8698-C12-200500977 and 8698-C12-10/00 |
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In this Public Notice the Commission invites
comments on a proposal to implement 10-digit local dialing in area code 450
in the Montreal region currently scheduled for October 2006, coincident with
the introduction of 10-digit local dialing in adjacent area code 514. |
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Background
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1. |
In New area code overlay to be introduced in
514 region, Order CRTC
2000-1187, 22 December 2000,1 the Commission approved the CRTC
Interconnection Steering Committee (CISC) ad hoc Numbering Plan Area 514
Relief Planning Committee's (the 514 RPC's) recommendation to introduce a new
area code using the overlay method, in all exchanges in area code 514. The
Commission also directed that 10-digit local dialing in area code 514
commence with the introduction of the new area code. |
2. |
In a letter dated 2 December 2003 to the Chair
of the 514 RPC, the Canadian Steering Committee on Numbering (CSCN), a
working group under CISC responsible for recommending solutions to numbering
issues in Canada, outlined concerns about a potential dial plan conflict
related to the area code 514 relief plan. Specifically, the CSCN was
concerned with opening area code 438, the assigned relief area code, as an
overlay in the area code 514 region. |
3. |
The CSCN noted that area code 438 was assigned
as a central office (CO)2 code in area code 450, which was
adjacent to area code 514. The CSCN noted that there were 10 exchanges in
area code 450 that had seven-digit local dialing to CO code 438 in the
St-Jérôme exchange and that would also have 10-digit local dialing into the
new area code 438. These ten exchanges were identified as Lachute,
Mirabel-Aéroport, Mirabel-St-Augustin, Mirabel-Ste-Scholastique, Shawbridge,
St-Calixte-de-Kilkenny, St-Hippolyte, St-Lin, St-Sauveur, and Ste-Thérèse.
The CSCN noted that some networks may have difficulty differentiating between
seven-digit dialed calls that should be routed immediately within area code
450 (i.e., 438-XXXX), and the first seven digits of a 10-digit local call
into the new area code (i.e., 438-NXX-XXXX). The CSCN requested that the
Chair advise the 514 RPC of this situation. |
4. |
On 15 April 2004, the 514 RPC submitted to the
CSCN and the Commission NPA 514 RPC recommendation re: CO Code 450-438
Local Dial Plan Conflict, recommending that 10-digit local dialing be
introduced throughout area code 450, coincident with the introduction of
10-digit local dialing in area code 514. |
5. |
In Relief plan for area code 514, Telecom
Decision CRTC 2004-61, 27
September 2004 (Decision 2004-61),
the Commission noted that some 10-digit local dialing into area code 514 from
area code 450 already exists, but further noted that the situation in area
code 438 was unique, in that the same digits would be used as both an area
code and a CO code. The Commission considered the potential dial plan
conflict, referred to by the CSCN. In this regard, the Commission stated that
absent an aggressive consumer awareness program, to clearly explain to
customers that calls to the new area code 438 must be dialed on a 10-digit
basis (i.e., with the area code), while calls to CO code 438 within area code
450 must be dialed on a seven-digit basis, customers in these exchanges could
become confused and frustrated with the combination of local dialing plans. |
6. |
In Decision
2004-61, the Commission
contemplated the 514 RPC’s recommendation for resolving the dial plan
conflict, and considered that it would eliminate the confusion of combining
seven-digit and 10-digit local dialing. The Commission noted, however, that
this recommendation was developed solely by the telecommunication service
providers (TSPs) and that approving it in Decision
2004-61 would preclude
consideration of public input. The Commission considered that customers
should have the opportunity to consider the proposal and provide their views
on the matter. |
7. |
In Decision
2004-61, the Commission
determined that the relief date (i.e. the date on which mandatory 10-digit
local dialing is implemented) for area code 514 would be 4 November 2006. The
Commission considered that if 10-digit local dialing was to be implemented in
area code 450 at the same time, it was important to give adequate notice to
customers, such that they could prepare for the change, by becoming familiar
with the dialing plan, as well as modifying their advertising, letterhead,
PBX dial plans, etc. |
8. |
The Commission therefore indicated that it would
seek public input in an expedited manner from customers in area code 450. |
9. |
The Commission notes that the current projected
exhaust date for area code 450 is April 2024; therefore, if 10-digit local
dialing is not introduced in this area code coincident with the
implementation of area code 438 in 2006, a mix of seven and 10-digit local
dialing would likely exist for many years to come. |
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Call for comments
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10. |
The Commission invites comments from TSPs and
customers in area code 450 as to the benefits and drawbacks of retaining a
mix of seven and 10-digit local dialing in area code 450 versus the benefits
and drawbacks of implementing 10-digit local dialing throughout area
code 450, coincident with the introduction of a new area code in the 514
region, which is scheduled for 2006. The Commission is particularly
interested in hearing from TSPs and customers in the Lachute,
Mirabel-Aéroport, Mirabel-St-Augustin, Mirabel-Ste-Scholastique, Shawbridge,
St-Calixte-de-Kilkenny, St-Hippolyte, St-Lin, St-Sauveur, and Ste-Thérèse
exchanges, who will have local calling to the St-Jérôme exchange (CO code 438
in area code 450), and local calling within the new area code 438 region. |
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Procedure
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11. |
All TSPs are made parties to this proceeding.
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12. |
Other parties wishing to participate fully in
this proceeding must notify the Commission of their intention to do so, by
8 February 2005. They should contact the Secretary General by mail at
CRTC, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0N2, by fax at (819) 994-0218 or by email at
procedure@crtc.gc.ca. They are to indicate in the notice their email address
where available. If parties do not have access to the Internet, they are to
indicate in their notice whether they wish to receive disk versions of hard
copy filings. |
13. |
The Commission will issue, as soon as possible
after the registration date, a complete list of parties and their mailing
address (including their email address, if available), identifying
those parties who wish to receive disk versions. |
14. |
Parties are invited to file their submissions
with regard to the introduction of 10-digit local dialing in area code 450,
coincident with the introduction of a new area code in the 514 region, with
the Commission by 17 February 2005, serving a copy on all other
parties. |
15. |
Any person who wishes merely to file written
comments on the introduction of 10-digit dialing in area code 450 in this
proceeding, without receiving copies of the various submissions, may do so by
writing to the Commission at the address noted in paragraph 12, or by sending
an email to procedure@crtc.gc.ca by 17 February 2005. |
16. |
All parties may file reply comments relating to
area code 450, with the Commission by 22 February 2005, serving a copy
on all other parties. |
17. |
The Commission will not formally acknowledge
comments. It will, however, fully consider all comments and they will form
part of the public record of the proceeding. |
18. |
Where a document is to be filed or served by a
specific date, the document must be actually received, not merely sent, by
that date. |
19. |
Parties can file their submissions
electronically or on paper. Submissions longer than five pages should include
a summary. |
20. |
Where the submission is filed by electronic
means, the line ***End of document*** should be entered following the last
paragraph of the document, as an indication that the document has not been
damaged during electronic transmission. |
21. |
Please note that only those submissions
electronically filed will be available on the Commission's web site and only
in the official language and format in which they are submitted. |
22. |
Each paragraph of your submission should be
numbered. |
23. |
The Commission also encourages interested
parties to monitor the public record of this proceeding (and/or the
Commission's web site) for additional information that they may find useful
when preparing their submissions. |
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Important
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24. |
All information submitted, including your email
address, name and any other personal information as provided, will be posted
on the Commission's web site. Documents received in electronic format will be
posted on the Commission's web site exactly as you send them, and in the
official language and format in which they are received. Documents not
received electronically will be available in .pdf format. |
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Location of CRTC offices
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25. |
Submissions may be examined or will be made
available promptly upon request at the Commission offices during normal
business hours: |
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Central Building
Les Terrasses de la Chaudière
1 Promenade du Portage, Room 206
Gatineau, Quebec J8X 4B1
Tel: (819) 997-2429 - TDD: 994-0423
Fax: (819) 994-0218 |
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205 Viger Avenue West, Suite 504
Montréal, Quebec H2Z 1G2
Tel: (514) 283-6607 |
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Secretary General |
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This document is available in alternative
format upon request and may also be examined at the following Internet site:
http://www.crtc.gc.ca |
___________________
Footnotes:
1 As amended by Correction to Order CRTC
2000-1187 dated 22 December 2000,
Order CRTC 2000-1187-1, 5
January 2001.
2 A CO code is the first three digits of a seven-digit telephone number (e.g.,
in 555-1212, the CO code is 555); an area code is the first
three digits in a 10-digit telephone number (e.g., in 902-555-1212, the area code
is 902).
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