Sec. 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 Common 
Carrier 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, Common Carrier 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.