Round Table January 2003

Posted: 1/2003

Round Table…

…on the impact of voice over IP on
the exhaustion of telephone numbers

"VoIP providers’ current use of
telephone numbers will expand the need for telephone numbers, which could
advance the exhaustion of the NPAs [numbering plan areas, or area codes].
Assigning telephone numbers from a particular NPA in one area of the country to
customers that do not reside in that NPA (i.e. they may actually reside in
another state) may accelerate the need for NPA relief. As VoIP service providers
begin to obtain and assign numbers in this fashion, it creates additional
demand."

–"VoIP Numbering
Issues," white paper issued by BellSouth Corp., Qwest Communications
International Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc.

"The arguments outlined in a
report submitted to the FCC’s North American Numbering Council that nascent IP
communications companies threaten to exhaust the pool of telephone numbers
represents a disingenuous strategy to protect the status quo."

–Jeff Pulver, CEO, pulver.com,
referencing a report authored by BellSouth, Qwest and Verizon urging the FCC to
reconsider how numbers get distributed to Internet telephony companies.