Number Conservation Efforts
- Voluntary Transfer of Thousands-Block Transfer Process
- Telephone and Water Utilities Industries Division Bulletins
- Rate Center Consolidation
The Maine Public Utilities Commission continues to work closely with voice network service providers to extend the life of the 207 Area Code. Some of these efforts include working with service providers to donate back unused and underutilized thousands-blocks back to the numbering pool.
Other efforts include working closely with providers in need of numbering resources and those who have may have over-contaminated numbering resources. These over-contaminated numbering resources may still be useful to another service provider who may not initially need a full thousands-block.
Voluntary Transfer of Thousands-Block Transfer Process
Industry guidelines allow for the voluntary transfer of an over-contaminated Thousands-Block from one service provider to another. This process is slightly different from the normal return of a Thousands-Block with ten percent or less contamination back to the numbering pool.
The voluntary transfer of an over-contaminated block allows a service provider with sufficient numbering resources to help minimize the need for additional Thousands-Blocks or Central Office Codes to be utilized by voluntarily transferring an over-contaminated block with greater than ten percent numbers in use to another service provider in need of numbering resources in a specific rate center.
Telephone and Water Utilities Industries Division Bulletins
The following bulletins are intended to serve as guidance or reminders to state or federal numbering obligations.
| No. | Bulletin Title/Subject | Date Issued | Addressee(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-02 | VNSPs Placing Telephone Numbers in Service Must Now Contribute to the State's MUSF and MTEAF Funds | December 5, 2023 | All Voice Network Service Providers |
| 2023-01 | Sequential Number Assignment | October 10, 2023 | All Voice Network Service Providers |
The Maine Public Utilities Commission is currently investigating the feasibility of massive rate center consolidation to determine if it could forestall a new area code overlay. More information about the Commission's investigation may be found here.