Press Release

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) recently revoked CCCPA’s certificate of public convenience, which had allowed the Arkansas company to operate as a competitive local exchange carrier in Pennsylvania. The PUC also ordered CCCPA to return approximately 20,000 telephone numbers.

"Telephone carriers who lose their certificate to provide telecommunications service contribute to the depletion of existing area codes if their NXX codes are not returned," said Commissioner Kim Pizzingrilli. "The PUC must ensure that all NXX codes held by carriers losing their authority to operate in Pennsylvania are properly returned and distributed to other licensed companies."

The Commission revoked the certificate of CCCPA because it failed to pay its 2001-02 annual assessment. In February, the PUC instituted a complaint against CCCPA for not paying the assessment. The company had 20 days to respond to the complaint or its certificate would be revoked. The PUC did not receive a response during that time.

Since CCCPA will no longer be licensed to operate in Pennsylvania, the Commission ordered the return of two NXX codes. CCCPA is to return its NXX code in the 484 area code and one in the 267 area code in Southeastern Pennsylvania.

The rapid proliferation of area codes in Pennsylvania and across the country is a result of telecommunications companies having to operate within an outdated telephone network structure. Companies can receive numbers only in blocks of 10,000 whether they have 100 or 9,000 customers. Once the 10,000 numbers are given to a company, they cannot be assigned to another one. As numbers remain stranded in the inventories of telephone companies the available resources in the area code deplete, requiring the need to open new area codes.

To slow the depletion of area codes, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) gave state utility commissions the authority to order the return of unused NXX codes. NXX codes are the first three digits of a phone number following the area code. Each one contains approximately 10,000 phone numbers and carriers wishing to provide telephone service need NXX codes to operate.

By ordering the return of unused NXX codes, the PUC is preserving the life of existing area codes by ensuring the more efficient use of telephone numbers.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission ensures safe, reliable and reasonably priced electric, natural gas, water, telephone and transportation service for Pennsylvania consumers, by regulating public utilities and by serving as responsible stewards of competition.