Vonage says direct number rules will help accelerate VoIP interconnection

Vonage said it agrees with the Federal Communications Commission's recent move to adopt direct numbering rights to interconnected VoIP providers. By providing direct access to numbers, Vonage and other competitive VoIP providers will be able more effectively interconnect with other carriers and accelerate service delivery to consumer and business customers. In April, the FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) seeking comment on its proposal to allow interconnected VoIP providers to obtain telephone numbers directly from the North American Numbering Plan Administration (NANPA) and the Pooling Administration (PA). The FCC's NPRM was accompanied by a Notice of Inquiry (NOI) seeking comment on a range of issues regarding the Commission's long-term approach to numbering resources, specifically the evolving relationship between numbers and geography and the Commission's related policies.

When it issued the NPRM, the FCC said that direct access to numbers will "facilitate innovative technologies and services that will benefit both consumers and providers, and further the Commission's recognized pro-consumer, pro-competition, and public safety goals." However compelling the FCC's initial move was, Vonage has asked the regulator to expand its existing limited waiver that would allow it to request numbering resources directly while Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval of the newly-adopted authorization process is pending. Vonage said that "this step will provide Vonage the opportunity to swiftly deploy numbers, thereby delivering the public interest benefits the Commission identified in its Order."