MODERN Working Group                                          J. Brewer
Internet-Draft                                   Peerless Network, Inc.
Intended Status: Informational                               T. McGarry
Expires: August 27, 2016                                  Neustar, Inc.
                                                               C. Wendt
                                                                Comcast
                                                      February 24, 2016




             Nationwide Number Portability: a MODERN Use Case
                     draft-mcgarry-nnp-use-case-00.txt


Abstract

   A proposed solution for geographic number portability in the USA
   calls for a new non-geographic numbering resource.  This draft uses
   this proposal as a use case for a MODERN solution.  While this
   focuses on an effort occurring in the USA the concepts are
   applicable to any country.

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   publication of this document. Please review these documents
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Table of Contents

   1. Introduction...................................................2
   2. Definitions....................................................5
   3. Use Cases......................................................5
      3.1 CSP Acquires an NGRN from a Registry.......................6
      3.2 User Ports a Geographic TN to an NGRN......................6
      3.3 User Acquires an NGTN from a CSP...........................7
      3.4 Call to an NGRN Via and NG Transport Provider..............7
      3.5 Call to an NGTN from a TDM Network.........................8
   4. Security Considerations........................................8
   5. IANA Considerations............................................8
   6. Normative References...........................................8

1. Introduction

   The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the USA has asked the
   North American Numbering Council, an advisory body, to recommend
   actions to enable nationwide number portability (NNP).  NNP is the
   ability to port a geographic TN to a different geographic area than
   the one to which it is associated.  One solution proposes
   establishing a new non-geographic numbering space to be used for
   call routing for NNP TNs.

   The format of a USA TN is:

   o  NXX-NXX-XXXX, where N=digits 2-9 and X=digits 0-9

   o  The first 3 digits (NXX) is called the area code

       o The area code is assigned to a geographic area or a specific
          service

   o  The first 6 digits (NXX-NXX) is called the central office code
      (CO Code)

       o The CO code in a geographic area code is assigned to a
          specific service provider and switch and is used as an
          address for that switch



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       o In some geographic areas all ten thousand TNs in a CO code
          (NXX-NXX-0000 to 9999) are assigned to that service provider
          as inventory

       o In most geographic areas one thousand TNs identified by the
          first 7 digits (NXX-NXX-X) are assigned to service providers
          as inventory

   o  The full 10 digits is called the line number

       o Line numbers are ultimately assigned to users

   Area codes can be either geographic or non-geographic.  Geographic
   area codes are assigned to a specific geographic region.  For
   example, the 202 area code is assigned to Washington, DC.  TNs
   within the 202 area code are assigned as inventory to service
   providers.  Service providers use this inventory to assign TNs to
   users who have a presence on their networks in Washington, DC.  CO
   codes assigned to switches in the 202 area code have a connection to
   the PSTN in the Washington, DC area.  Mobile and landline networks
   both use CO codes and TN inventory in the same geographic area
   codes.

   Non-geographic area codes do not designate a specific geographic
   region.  They are considered nationwide, i.e., TNs within the area
   code can be assigned to a User anywhere in the country.  Today non-
   geographic area codes are used to designate a specific service.  For
   example, the 800 area code is used to designate toll free service.

   Networks use the CO codes of geographic TNs to route calls.  For TNs
   that have been ported the TN is assigned a routing number (RN).  (In
   the USA, the term local routing number (LRN) is used.  The term RN
   is used in this document.)  The assignment of the RN to the TN is
   done in an industry database called the number portability
   administration center (NPAC).  Networks use the CO code of the RN to
   route calls to a ported TN.  Today all calls to geographic TNs are
   routed based on a CO code.

   Portability is limited to the geographic area associated with the
   TN.  One of the ways this is achieved is by implementing an edit in
   the NPAC that ensures the RN and the TN are in the same geographic
   area.  The request by the FCC is asking the industry to remove this
   limitation.

   One way to enable NNP is to remove the NPAC edit and allow the TN
   and RN to be in different geographic areas.  However, there are many
   technical and operational aspects of the communications networks


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   that rely on the TN and RN being in the same geography.  These would
   have to be investigated, tested, and resolved.  It's been reported
   that a call of this type in certain older technology switches will
   fail.  If so, then new software would have to be developed for these
   switches to implement this solution.

   An alternative solution has been proposed that would use a new non-
   geographic area code for RNs.  These are called non-geographic
   routing numbers (NGRN).  They would be hosted on an all-IP network
   of switches called non-geographic gateways (NGGW), rather than the
   existing TDM tandems operated by the incumbent local exchange
   carriers (ILECs).  The non-geographic area code would indicate to
   older technology infrastructure the need to send the call to an IP
   network for call processing.  Once on the IP network the NGGW is
   identified and the call is routed.

   A call to an NGRN can involve four entities:

   o  Originating CSP - the CSP that has performed the number
      portability dip and is routing to the NGRN

   o  NG Transport Provider - the network that can route the call to
      the correct NGGW

   o  NGGW - the switch that hosts the NGRN

   o  Terminating CSP - the CSP that is connected to the NGGW and is
      assigned the NGRN or NGTN and completes the call to the User

   Some of these entities can be collapsed, for example NGGW and
   terminating CSP or originating CSP and NG transport provider.  There
   can also be additional entities involved in transporting the call.
   It's also been proposed that TNs within the non-geographic area code
   can be used for assignment to Users for traditional voice and text
   service.  These are called non-geographic TNs (NGTNs).  Today
   consumer voice and text service is limited to TNs from geographic
   area codes.

   This document is a MODERN use case for a new non-geographic
   numbering space proposed to enable GNP in the USA.  It uses the
   following assumptions:

   o  Numbering space to be managed is a non-geographic area code in
      the format of NXX-NXX-XXXX

   o  Both NGRNs and NGTNs are assigned from this space


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   o  NGRNs are assigned on a 10-digit basis - not a 6-digit basis, as
      they are for geographic RNs

   o  The service provider and the NGGW associated with an NGRN can
      change

   o  NGTNs are assigned on a 10-digit basis to CSPs - not in blocks,
      as they are for geographic TNs

   o  NGTNs have an associated NGRN, i.e., calls to NGTNs are routed
      based on the NGRN

   o  The service provider, NGRN, and NGGW associated with an NGTN can
      change

   This document uses definitions from [I-D.peterson-modern-problems].
   It also assumes that either a single authoritative registry or a
   distributed registry can perform the Registry functions.  Here the
   term Registry is used to cover both types of solutions.
2. Definitions

   These mostly address terms associated with numbering in the USA or
   new terms created for this document.

   o  Nationwide number portability (NNP) - the ability to port a
      geographic TN to a different geographic area than the one to
      which it is associated

   o  Area code - the first 3 digits of a TN that is assigned to a
      geographic area or a service

   o  Central office code (CO code) - the first 6 digits of a TN that
      is assigned to a specific service provider and switch

   o  Routing number (RN) - a geographic TN that is associated with a
      ported TN for the purposes of call routing

   o  Non-geographic routing number (NGRN) - a TN from a non-geographic
      area code that is used to route calls to NNP TNs

   o  Non-geographic gateway (NGGW) - an IP switch that hosts NGRNs

   o  Number portability administration center (NPAC) - an industry
      database that manages number portability information




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3. Use Cases

   The use cases cover processes for actors acquiring, managing, and
   retrieving data related to NGRNs and NGTNs.

3.1. CSP Acquires an NGRN from a Registry

   A CSP is preparing to offer NNP service to its Users.  The first
   step would be to register as a CSP with the Registry by providing
   profile information.  The CSP profile should be data that will be
   referenced whenever the CSP attempts a transaction with the
   Registry.  This could include administrative data such as CSP
   contact information.  There could be multiple contacts in the CSP
   such as, administrative, billing, and technical. It could include
   administrative data about the CSP's NGGW provider(s).  It could also
   include service data such as addressing data for the NGGW(s).

   During the registration process the Registry should certify that the
   CSP is qualified to request an NGRN.  This could be a credential or
   some other authorization provided by the Numbering Authority.  It
   could also include verification that the CSP has the ability to
   offer service to the NGRN, such as an agreement with an NGGW
   provider.  Upon assignment the CSP assigns it to an NGGW provider
   and NGGW addressing information and shares this with the Registry.
   The CSP and the NGGW provider can be the same company.

   The Registry would make the assignment data available to others
   based on local policies.  It can do this by providing an API or by
   distributing the data.  Administrative data is more likely provided
   by API, reference addresses and service data could be provided by
   distribution.

   There should be policies as to which and how many NGRNs the CSP can
   request.  It could request a specific NGRN, or perhaps the Registry
   would assign one randomly or in sequence.  Given that there should
   be a relatively small number of NGGWs there should be some
   limitation on how many NGRNs a CSP can request, perhaps some number
   per NGGW.

   When the Registry assigns the NGRN they would issue a credential to
   the CSP.  The credential can be used in future transactions.

3.2. User Ports a Geographic TN to an NGRN

   There are seven regional NPACs that manage the process of porting
   geographic TNs.  These are divided geographically by area code.
   Each area code is dedicated to a specific NPAC and no area code is


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   shared across two NPACs.  For example, A CSP would port a 212 TN
   from New York in the Northeast regional NPAC.  Geographic RNs are
   also specific to a region.  Some CSPs only connect to some regions,
   i.e., a CSP may only connect to one region.  If so, they can only
   port TNs and get porting information in the region(s) to which they
   connect.  Those CSPs have arrangements with other CSPs to handle
   portability call processing for TNs in other regions.  This is
   likely a transport provider that has connectivity to all NPACs.

   NGRNs would have to be able to be in any and multiple regions.  This
   is possible with current NPAC processes.  The most efficient way to
   port numbers in this environment is to maintain the ported TN-to-
   region association.  For example, if a CSP is porting a 212 TN to an
   NGRN, they would port it in the Northeast region.

   When a CSP is porting a TN to an NGRN the CSP will first register
   the NGRN in the region associated with the porting TN.  Then they
   will port the TN as they would today, except it is to an NGRN, not a
   geographic RN.  The NPAC downloads the ported TN-to-NGRN data to all
   interconnected service providers.

3.3. User Acquires an NGTN from a CSP

   A User requests service from a CSP, the CSP submits its credential
   to the Registry and requests an NGTN.  It provides the Registry with
   NGGW information, administrative and service, related to the NGTN.
   The Registry verifies the CSP and assigns an NGTN along with a
   credential for that NGTN.  The CSP could provide the User with the
   credential for them to use in future transactions.

   The User provides contact information to the CSP.  The CSP can
   either store the contact information and provide a reference address
   to the Registry, or it could send the contact data to the Registry
   for storage.

   The CSP establishes service to the User and NGTN.

3.4. Call to an NGRN Via an NG Transport Provider

   The originating CSP provisions the non-geographic area code as a
   valid area code on its network.  When a call originates to an NNP
   TN, the CSP will perform an NP dip and will receive an NGRN.  It
   routes the call based on the area code of the NGRN to an NG
   Transport Provider that it has an agreement with.  The NG Transport
   Provider routes the call to the NGGW based on routing information
   related to the NGRN.



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   The routing information could simply be the NGRN itself.  Most CSPs
   use traditional PSTN routing and interconnection techniques when
   routing IP traffic.  They create SIP trunk groups (SIP TGs) between
   their session border controllers (SBCs).  They choose a SIP TG based
   on the CO code.  Because the number of NGGWs and NGRNs will be
   relatively small, it would be possible to create routing tables
   based on 10 digit NGRNs.  Also there will be no need to route calls
   based on the first 6 digits of an NGRN, therefore there will be no
   conflict with the 10 digit tables.

   Alternatively there could be some other routing information
   associated with the NGRN, such as a unique service provider
   identifier or a URI.  This could be used to consolidate multiple
   NGRNs into a smaller number of identifiers.  But this would likely
   require changes to the SIP protocol to add the new identifier to NP
   call processing.

3.5. Call to an NGTN from a TDM Network

   The CSP provisions the NG area code as a valid area code in its
   network.  When a call originates to an NGTN it can either do the NP
   query and hand the call off to an NG Transport Provider (as
   described above), or it can send the call to the NG Transport
   Provider and let it perform the NP dip.

   Once on the NG Transport Provider's network it will route to the
   correct NGGW, as described above.

4. Security Considerations

   [TBA]

5. IANA Considerations

   This memo includes no request to IANA.

6. Normative References

   [1]   Peterson, J. and McGarry, T. (Editors), "draft-peterson-
         modern-problems-02.txt", October 19, 2105









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         Authors' Addresses

   Tom McGarry
   Neustar, Inc.
   46000 Center Oak Plaza
   Sterling, VA 20164
   USA

   Email: tom.mcgarry@neustar.biz


   Jim Brewer
   Peerless Network, Inc.
   222 S. Riverside Plaza, Suite 2730
   Chicago, IL 60606
   USA

   Email: jbrewer@peerlessnetwork.com

   Chris Wendt
   Comcast
   One Comcast Center
   Philadelphia, PA 19103
   USA

   Email: chris-ietf@chriswendt.net























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