Purpose and Scope This document specifies guidelines for the administration and assignment of thousands-blocks (NXX-Xs) to Local Number Portability (LNP)-capable service providers (SPs) in rate centers where thousands-block number pooling has been ordered or implemented.1 All thousandsblock requests and necessary forms will be submitted by SPs to the Pooling Administrator (PA) by filling out the appropriate request and/or form provided on the PA Web Site.2 No requests and/or form submissions will be accepted via fax@ paper@ voice@ or e-mail@ except in extraordinary circumstances@ semi-annual Appendix 1@ and/or if previously agreed to by the PA. An industry database (see 5.1.1) will verify the password and access level of the user. All electronic submissions from an authorized user will be considered as an electronic signature and will be verified for authenticity utilizing criteria maintained in the PA database. In addition@ these guidelines outline the processes used between the PA and: ? Code Holders ?Block Holders ?The CO Code Administrator ?Number Portability Administration Centers (NPAC) ?North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA) ? Regulatory Agencies Thousands-block number pooling@ in the context of these guidelines@ allows for sharing of Central Office (CO) Codes (NXX Codes) among multiple SPs serving the same rate center. All ten thousand telephone numbers (TNs) within each NXX Code continue to be associated with the same rate center designation (i.e.@ V&H coordinates)@ but can be distributed among multiple SPs at the thousands-block (NXX-X) level. Examples of uses for thousands-blocks for which these guidelines apply include plain old telephone service (POTS)@ Centrex@ Direct Inward Dialing (DID)@ wireless service@ facsimile@ and coin phones. Carriers required to participate in pooling must request and receive numbering resources from the national Pooling Administrator (PA). 3 Where thousands-block number pooling has not been implemented@ or is not in use by an SP@ the SP shall continue to apply directly to the CO Code Administrator for numbering resources. Guidelines addressing the assignment of Central Office Codes (NXXs) are covered under the Central Office Code (NXX) Assignment Guidelines (ATIS-0300051). Six to nine months (see Section 6.0 below) prior to thousands-block number pooling participation@ SPs that do not currently participate in thousands-block number pooling@ will be required to utilize these guidelines. In addition@ non-pooling SPs are obliged to provide forecast and other data pursuant to regulatory request. These guidelines do not supersede appropriate North American Numbering Plan (NANP) area governmental or regulatory principles@ procedures@ and requirements. 1 FCC 03-126 ? 14 2 A profile for each authorized user will be contained in the industry database@ as documented in Section 5.1.1. Only those users with a valid profile will be permitted to submit applications or changes on behalf of a SP. (See Appendix 5) 3 47 CFR ??2.20 (b)