Agenda Date:       June 16, 2000
Item Number:
Docket:                   UT-991627 - Telephone Number Conservation
Company Name:         Washington Exchange Carrier Association
Staff:                            Glenn Blackmon, Assistant Director - 
Telecommunications
                            David Dittemore, Telecommunications Engineer
                            Betty Erdahl, Policy Research Specialist
Recommendation: 
Issue an order delaying the deadline for the Washington Exchange Carrier 
Association to submit an implementation plan for a number pooling trial from 
August 1, 2000 to October 1, 2000.
Discussion 
On February 23, 2000, the WUTC directed the industry number conservation group, 
which operates under the auspices of the Washington Exchange Carrier 
Association, to prepare for number pooling in the 360 area code as soon as 
October 1, 2000. The group was directed to submit an implementation plan by 
August 1, 2000.
These preparations were consistent with a petition to the Federal 
Communications Commission filed last fall by the WUTC, in which the WUTC asked 
for delegated authority to require number pooling. The FCC has yet to act on 
that petition, but on March 30, 2000 it issued an order establishing the 
conditions under which it would grant state petitions for number conservation 
authority. On April 27, 2000 the WUTC amended its petition in an effort to 
conform its request to the FCC's requirements and to ask for number pooling 
authority under a "special circumstance" provision in the FCC's order.
The FCC has not yet acted on the amended petition. However, the pooling 
schedule and coverage area envisioned in the WUTC's original order to WECA 
would likely require modification. Pooling would initially be limited to the 
Seattle consolidated metropolitan statistical area (consisting of King, Pierce, 
Kitsap, Island, Snohomish, and Thurston counties). This region includes a part 
of the 360 area code but consists primarily of the 206, 253, and 425 area 
codes. Because the FCC apparently will not let the WUTC use pooling to delay 
the need for a new area code in the entire 360 area, a Fall 2000 implementation 
date probably is not needed. 
Conclusion 
Given these developments, Staff believes that it is appropriate to delay the 
deadline for submission of the implementation plan until October 1, 2000. This 
implementation plan should contemplate implementation of mandatory number 
pooling beginning February 1, 2001 within the Seattle consolidated metropolitan 
statistical area.