to the New Hampshire Commission to initiate a thousands-block number pooling trial, we also
delegate to it the authority to reclaim thousands blocks in connection with the trial. The
conditions that apply to the implementation of a thousands-block number pooling trial shall also
apply to any reclamation of unused blocks of numbers. In particular, the industry's guidelines
regarding reclamation of thousands blocks shall apply to the New Hampshire Commission.42
23.    Auditing carriers' use of numbering resources and requiring submission of
utilization, forecast data. The New Hampshire Commission seeks the authority to require the
submission of utilization and forecast data.43 The New Hampshire Commission also proposes to
conduct random number utilization audits to identify and address inefficiencies within New
Hampshire.44 In prior orders, the Commission granted similar authority to the public utility
commissions of New York and Florida, determining that state commissions should be able to
monitor carriers' use of numbering resources, if they choose to do so.45 Parties commenting on
the instant petition raise issues similar to those which the Commission already addressed in these
prior orders. Based on Commission precedent, we therefore delegate authority to the New
Hampshire Commission to require carriers to submit information regarding number utilization
and forecast demand for resources, and to conduct random number utilization audits. We
reiterate, however, that because these are measures under consideration in the Numbering
Resource Optimization Notice, this grant of authority is limited in duration until such time as the
Commission enacts rules or policies relating to collecting number utilization and forecast data or
auditing carriers' use of numbering resources.4
24.     Thousands-block number pooling. The New Hampshire Commission requests
authority to institute thousands-block number pooling in New Hampshire.47 The New Hampshire
Commission states that it would likely limit an initial trial to the Manchester-Nashua area where
the demand for new numbers as a result of competitive activity is heaviest.48 The Commission
42 See Thousand Block Pooling Guidelines at  8.1.4-8.1.5 (specifying only that blocks with less than ten percent
contamination shall be donated to the industry pool of thousands blocks).
43 Petition at 10-11.
44 See Petition at 12-13.
45 See New York Delegation Order at 1 35 (delegating authority to audit carriers' use of numbering resources);
Florida Delegation Order at 1 36 (delegating authority to conduct number utilization surveys from all carriers); see
also various commenters.
46 See Numbering Resource Optimization Notice at TI 83-90.
47 Petition 9. Historically, network routing mechanisms are based upon the understanding that geographic numbers
are assigned on an NXX code basis and associated with a specific switch, and, correspondingly, that the network
address to which the call must be routed is embedded in the first six digits (NPA-NXX) of the called number.
Thousands-block number pooling allows service providers in a given area to receive numbers in blocks of 1,000 by
breaking the association between the NPA-NXX and the service provider to whom the call is routed. Through
number pooling, participating carriers can effectively share numbering resources from NXX codes rather than
receiving an entire NXX code at a time. Numbering Resource Optimization Notice at 1 130.
48 Petition at 9.

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