CONSUMER AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS BUREAU ANNOUNCES COMPLIANCE DATE FOR REASSIGNED NUMBERS DATABASE RULES

PUBLIC NOTICE
Federal Communications Commission
DA 20-706
Released: July 2, 2020

CG Docket No. 17-59

On December 13, 2018, the Commission released the Reassigned Numbers Database Order, establishing a database that will allow callers to determine whether a telephone number has been permanently disconnected after a date certain and therefore is no longer assigned to the party the caller wants to reach. (1)  The Reassigned Numbers Database Order calls for the new rules adopted in that Order to become effective 30 days after the Commission publishes a notice in the Federal Register announcing approval of the new and modified information collection requirements by the Office of Management and Budget (OBM) under the Paperwork Reduction Act. (2)

On June 26, 2020, the Commission published an announcement of OMB approval and compliance dates for the new rules in the Federal Register.(3) Therefore, beginning July 27, 2020, voice service providers must maintain records of the most recent date each number was permanently disconnected and must age telephone numbers for at least 45 days after disconnection and before reassignment. (4)  Small business voice service providers have an additional six months, i.e., until January 27, 2021, to comply with the record maintenance rule.(5) The Commission will announce the compliance date for the new rule requiring voice service providers to send information to the Reassigned Numbers Database once the database is established.(6)

(1) Advanced Methods to Target and Eliminate Unlawful Robocalls, CG Docket No. 17-59, Second Report and Order, 33 FCC Rcd 12024, 12029, para. 11 (2018) (Reassigned Numbers Database Order).

(2) Id. at 12051, para 80.

(3) Federal Communications Commission, Advanced Methods to Target and Eliminate Unlawful Robocalls, 85 FR 38334 (June 26, 2020).

(4) Compliance with 47 CFR §§ 52.15(f)(1)(ii) and (f)(8), 52.103(d), and 64.1200(l)(1) will be required as of July 27, 2020. Id.

(5) Reassigned Numbers Database Order, 33 FCC Rcd at 12039, para. 43.

(6) See 47 CFR § 64.1200(l)(2). The Commission has issued a request for proposals for an Administrator to build and operate the Reassigned Numbers Database.

For further information, contact Karen Schroeder, Consumer Policy Division, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, at (202) 418-0654 or karen.schroeder@fcc.gov.