Sec. 52.31  Deployment of long-term database methods for number 
          portability by CMRS providers.

    (a) By June 30, 1999, all cellular, broadband PCS, and covered SMR 
providers must provide a long-term database method for number 
portability, in the MSAs identified in the appendix to this part in 
compliance with the performance criteria set forth in Sec. 52.23(a), 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.
    (1) Any procedure to identify and request switches for deployment 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) For the MSAs identified in the appendix to this part, carriers 
must submit requests for deployment by September 30, 1998;
    (iii) A cellular, broadband PCS, or covered SMR 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 June 30, 1999, a cellular, broadband PCS, or covered SMR 
provider must deploy additional switches serving the MSAs identified in 
the Appendix to this part 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 that 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 June 30, 1999, all cellular, broadband PCS, and covered SMR 
providers must be able to support roaming nationwide.
    (b) By December 31, 1998, all cellular, broadband PCS, and covered 
SMR providers must have the capability to obtain routing information, 
either by querying the appropriate 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

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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 cellular, 
broadband PCS, and covered SMR 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]

    Effective Date Note: At  62 FR 18295 , Apr. 15, 1997, Sec. 52.31 was 
amended by revising paragraph (a). This amendment contains information 
collection requirements and will not become effective until approval has 
been given by the Office of Management and Budget.

Secs. 52.32-52.99  [Reserved]

                      Subpart D--Toll Free Numbers

    Source:  62 FR 20127 , Apr. 25, 1997, unless otherwise noted.