§  52.25   Database architecture and administration.

   (a) The North American Numbering Council (NANC) shall direct
   establishment of a nationwide system of regional SMS databases for the
   provision of long-term database methods for number portability.

   (b) All telecommunications carriers shall have equal and open access to
   the regional databases.

   (c) The NANC shall select a local number portability administrator(s)
   (LNPA(s)) to administer the regional databases within seven months of
   the initial meeting of the NANC.

   (d) The NANC shall determine whether one or multiple administrator(s)
   should be selected, whether the LNPA(s) can be the same entity selected
   to be the North American Numbering Plan Administrator, how the LNPA(s)
   should be selected, the specific duties of the LNPA(s), the geographic
   coverage of the regional databases, the technical interoperability and
   operational standards, the user interface between telecommunications
   carriers and the LNPA(s), the network interface between the SMS and the
   downstream databases, and the technical specifications for the regional
   databases.

   (e) Once the NANC has selected the LNPA(s) and determined the locations
   of the regional databases, it must report its decisions to the
   Commission.

   (f) The information contained in the regional databases shall be
   limited to the information necessary to route telephone calls to the
   appropriate telecommunications carriers. The NANC shall determine what
   specific information is necessary.

   (g) Any state may opt out of its designated regional database and
   implement a state-specific database. A state must notify the Wireline
   Competition Bureau and NANC that it plans to implement a state-specific
   database within 60 days from the release date of the Public Notice
   issued by the Chief, Wireline Competition Bureau, identifying the
   administrator selected by the NANC and the proposed locations of the
   regional databases. Carriers may challenge a state's decision to opt
   out of the regional database system by filing a petition with the
   Commission.

   (h) Individual state databases must meet the national requirements and
   operational standards recommended by the NANC and adopted by the
   Commission. In addition, such state databases must be technically
   compatible with the regional system of databases and must not interfere
   with the scheduled implementation of the regional databases.

   (i) Individual carriers may download information necessary to provide
   number portability from the regional databases into their own
   downstream databases. Individual carriers may mix information needed to
   provide other services or functions with the information downloaded
   from the regional databases at their own downstream databases. Carriers
   may not withhold any information necessary to provide number
   portability from the regional databases on the grounds that such data
   has been combined with other information in its downstream database.

   [ 61 FR 38637 , July 25, 1996. Redesignated at  61 FR 47353 , Sept. 6,
   1996, as amended at  67 FR 13226 , Mar. 21, 2002]