The long awaited draft technical requirements for the FCC’s reassigned numbers database was released today. At the time of the adoption of an order establishing this database in December 2018, the FCC tasked its North American Numbering Council (NANC) with studying several technical issues that are prerequisite to ensure the effectiveness of this database within a year. However, stating that the task was unexpectedly complex, the NANC sought two extensions of the deadline in June and in September 2019, using the additional time to formulate baseline technical requirements for the database.

While a proceeding reviewing two petitions for reconsideration of the December 2018 order is still pending before the FCC, NANC’s work on structuring a work plan for this database continues to proceed. The fifty-nine-page draft technical requirements document released today addresses many issues, including required components of the desired system, procedural matters related to record-keeping, reporting and audit, and competitive bidding process.

With the release of this draft document, the FCC seeks comments on all aspects of the technical requirements document proposal, which when finalized will form the basis for soliciting bids and making contracting decisions on the administration and implementation of the reassigned numbers database. Interested parties have until Monday, February 24, 2020 to submit comments to the FCC. Any reply comments are due by Monday, March 9, 2020.