As the industry moves closer to an all Internet Protocol (IP) Network, many parties have been concerned with how today’s circuit switched telephone numbers will be associated with IP addresses. The FCC addressed this issue in its January 31, 2014 Order in Docket 13-5, its “Technology Transitions” proceeding.  According to the Commission,

The technology transitions [to an IP network] raise challenges and opportunities for the assignment of telephone numbers within the North American numbering plan and for the features, capabilities, and security of numbering-related databases.  Getting these numbering systems right is essential to preserving core values of competition and consumer protection. Number portability, for example, encourages competition by allowing consumers to respond to providers’ price and service changes without losing their phone numbers.  Numbering databases allow for efficient interconnection among providers, furthering competition and entry of new providers. Call routing and call completion policies fulfill consumers’ valid expectations that by dialing a telephone number they will successfully reach whomever they wish to call. The integrity of numbering information is crucial for securing voice-related services, e.g., to prevent or reduce telephony denial-of-service attacks, phishing, illegal telemarketing practices or fraud, thus furthering public safety and consumer protection goals. As networks transition, we must ensure that these values, which are embedded in our current numbering systems and policies, are preserved and enhanced (Technology Transition Order at para. 151).

To that end, the Commission has decided to develop what it calls a telephone number “testbed” for the research and exploration of technical options and opportunities for telephone numbering in an all-IP network. Developing ideas in a testbed would avoid disrupting current systems and would allow interested parties to work through any technical feasibility constraints to allow for the broadest range of policy options and outcomes.

Neustar, the administrator of the current North American Numbering Plan, has just submitted a white paper to the FCC on March 14, 2014 that provides an interesting take on how it would handle telephone numbers in IP Network.

Neustar envisions that in an IP environment, each telephone number would be a so-called “webTN.”  A webTN is an identifier and not a network routing resource as telephone numbers are today.  Each webTN would be registered to an individual or an enterprise, similar to the way domain names are today. 

The important thing to note is that by registering a webTN with an individual or enterprise, it is separated from a specific device or address. This would allow the webTN to serve as an identifier for many services or many devices. 

The Neustar white paper is well worth a read however, the work to transition the current numbering system is just beginning. While it may be relatively straight forward to develop a method for associating telephone numbers with IP addresses in a network that is 100 percent IP, it will take years to reach that point.  The industry must grapple with the fact that while some customers will utilize the Internet from start to finish on a call, others will continue on the time division multiplexed (TDM) network indefinitely. In its proposal to test an IP network in West Delray Beach, AT&T notes that currently, it cannot offer IP service to all customers.  To its credit, it states that it will not abandon these TDM customers until a solution is found for them. However, it makes the telephone number transition that much more complex for the industry.

In the next step of this process, the Commission has scheduled a workshop on March 25, 2014 to develop its numbering testbed. A long-term numbering solution, however, is probably still years away.

By Andrew Regitsky, President, Regitsky & Associates