Telecommunications Act of 1996 | 47 U.S.C. ยง 251(b)(2)
Telecommunications Act of 1996 | 47 U.S.C. ยง 251(b)(2)
Telecommunications Act of 1996
Theย Telecommunications Act of 1996ย was the first significant overhaul of telecom
Local Number Portability (LNP)
Local number portability was mandated in the U.S. by the Telecommunications Act of 1996. The act provided the regulatory framework for LNP implementation, intended to provide competition in the local telephone services market after deregulation of the telephone industry in 1984. However, a number of events between 1984 and 1996 led to the development and implementation of LNP in the U.S.
Local Number Portability (LNP), also known as number portability and number porting, enables end users to keep their telephone number when switching from one telecommunications service provider to another. Prior to the introduction of LNP, changing service providers meant having to get a new telephone number. Number porting changed that, making it possible for consumers to retain the same telephone number.
Number Portability Administration Center (NPAC)
The Number Portability Administration Center (NPAC) is a function of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the United States. It administers the routing of telephone calls and text messages (SMS) for the telecommunications industry and its customers. As such, it facilitates local number portability in the United States and Canada.
The Telecommunications Act of 1996 (47 U.S.C. ยง 251(b)(2)) established that all local exchange carriers must implement local number portability (LNP) in accordance with the regulations of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
NPAC Administrator
Following enactment of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Neustar (as Lockheed Martin IMS) was selected by the telecommunications industry and approved by the Federal Communications Commission to be the Local Number Portability Administrator (LNPA). As the LNPA, Neustar developed and began operating the Number Portability Administration Center (NPAC) in 1997.
The NPAC initially supported the routing of 4 billion telephone calls and 6 billion text messages every day for the telecommunications industry. It does this by storing the relationship between telephone numbers, service providers, and network routing instructions, and broadcasting updates to the entire communications network when they happen. In this way, Neustar makes sure that you can take your number with you when you switch to a new telecommunications carrier.
NPAC Administrator Change
In 2015, iconectiv won a contract procured by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to operate the Number Portability Administration Center (NPAC). The service had been operated by Neustar Inc. for 18 years. iconectiv completed the transition from Neustar on May 29, 2018 becoming the Local Number Portability Administrator (LNPA) for the United States
iconectiv was also awarded the contract from CTIA to provide Common Short Code (CSC) Registry Services, effective January 1, 2016.
In 2019, the Secure Telephone Identity Governance Authority (STI-GA) selected iconnectiv as the U.S. STI Policy Administrator for supervising measures to ensure voice calls have accurate caller ID.
iconectivย is a supplier of network planning and network management services to telecommunications providers. Known asย Bellcoreย after its establishment in the United States in 1983 as part of the break-up of theย Bell System, the company's name changed toย Telcordia Technologiesย after a change of ownership in 1996. The business was acquired byย Ericssonย in 2012, then restructured and rebranded as iconectiv in 2013.
A major architect of the United States telecommunications system, the company pioneered many services, including caller ID,ย call waiting,ย mobile number portabilityย andย toll-free telephone numberย (800) service. It also pioneered the prepaid charging system and theย Intelligent Network.
Who is Telcordia?
In 1996, the company was provisionally acquired byย Science Applications International Corporationย (SAIC).ย The sale was closed one year later, following a regulatory approval process that covered all the states individually. Since the divested company no longer had any ownership connection with the Bell regional companies, the name was changed toย Telcordia Technologies. in 1999.ย The headquarters was moved toย Piscataway, New Jersey.
The former headquarters campus in Morristown and its offices and laboratories in Red Bank, New Jersey, are former Bell Labs locations that were transferred to Telcordia.
Equal stakes in the company were sold in March 2005 toย Providence Equity Partnersย andย Warburg Pincus.
Who is Ericsson?
On June 14, 2011,ย Ericssonย announced an agreement to acquire Telcordia for $1.15 billion.ย On January 12, 2012, Telcordia became a wholly owned subsidiary of Ericsson.
On June 15, 2011, Ericsson announced the completion of the purchase fromย private-equityย firmsย Providence Equity Partnersย andย Warburg Pincus,ย with the goal to pursue industry trends that includeย mobile broadband,ย managed services/outsourcingย and globalย OSS/BSSย transformation.
The acquisition, which officially closed on January 12, 2012,ย added about 2,600 employees to Ericsson's staff.ย On June 4, 2012, Telcordia and its products were officiallyย rebrandedย as Ericsson.
Intellectual Property, Patents, & Subscription Agreements with Cell Phone Manufacturers
Infrastructure and Cell Tower
Wireless Communications and Public Safety Act of 1999
The official emergency number in the United States and Canada is 911. Although the first 911 call was placed in Haleyville, Alabama in 1968, it was not until 1999 that the United States Congress directed the FCC to make 911 the universal emergency number in the United States for all telephone services.
The 911 network is now a vital part of our nation's emergency response and disaster preparedness system. Emergency personnel and others often learn about emergencies through 911 calls. Dialing 911 quickly connects a caller to a nearby Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) dispatcher who is trained to route your call to local emergency medical, fire, and law enforcement agencies.
911 Master Public Safety Answering Point Registry
In December 2003, the FCC began collecting data to build a registry of public safety answering points (PSAPs). A primary PSAP is defined as a PSAP to which 911 calls are routed directly from the 911 Control Office, such as, a selective router or 911 tandem. A secondary PSAP is defined as a PSAP to which 911 calls are transferred from a primary PSAP. The PSAP database serves as a tool to aid the Commission in evaluating the state of PSAP readiness and E911 deployment.
The Registry lists PSAPs by an FCC assigned identification number, PSAP Name, State, County, City, and provides information on any type of record change and the reason for updating the record.
Basic 911
Basic 9-1-1 means that when the three-digit number is dialed, a call taker/dispatcher in the local public safety answering point (PSAP), or 9-1-1 call center, answers the call.
The emergency and its location are communicated by voice (or TTY) between the caller and the call taker.
Enhanced 911
In areas serviced by enhanced 9-1-1, the call is selectively routed to the proper PSAP for the callerโs location, and the PSAP has equipment and database information that display the caller's phone number and address to the call taker. 93% of counties with 9-1-1 coverage have enhanced 9-1-1 for callers. The term "enhanced 9-1-1โ is not synonymous with wireless 9-1-1.
Master Street Address Guide (MSAG) is a database which houses all streets and addresses within their associated postal range for emergency service purposes. The MSAG Address Directory for any address-range belongs to a state or municipal authority. They are responsible for updating the MSAG Directory and making it available for use. For any specific questions, contact your particular state or municipal authority.
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