Maine PUC Scrutinizes Verizon Number Forecasts
The Maine Public Utilities Commission will probe Verizon Wireless numbering practices. The PUC posted a notice of investigation Tuesday in case 2021-00212. The 207 area code could exhaust in Q4 2024, but after reviewing Verizon number resource requests from January…
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2020-June 18, 2021, the PUC found “reason to question” Verizon’s forecasting process, said the agency. “While there may be a time when Maine has to accept a new area code, it would be a shame for one company’s practices to hasten that time if it has no actual need,” said PUC Chairman Philip Bartlett. “Verizon may be using unrealistic forecasting goals, unnecessarily tying up available phone numbers.” The agency asked the carrier to provide details on available numbers and utilization, and explain why forecast growth is higher than historic growth. Last month, the commission asked the FCC to direct the North American numbering plan administrator to report on requirements to implement individual number pooling on a trial basis. Verizon didn’t comment.