<div><div dir="auto" style="border-color:rgb(0,0,0)">This was very helpful and confirms I am not the only one scratching my head at this requirement. I am current stuck in the registration process because our OCN is listed as a “VoIP Provider” and iConectiv is wanting to verify our <i style="border-color:rgb(0,0,0)">VoIP Numbering Resource Authorization </i><span style="border-color:rgb(0,0,0)">with the FCC.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="border-color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="border-color:rgb(0,0,0)"><br></span></div><div dir="auto" style="border-color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="border-color:rgb(0,0,0)">Have you heard of any changes to this part of the process, it seems like a lot of hoops and wasted time/resources for something we will never utilize (regarding direct access to numbering resources).</span></div><div dir="auto" style="border-color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="border-color:rgb(0,0,0)"><br></span></div><div dir="auto" style="border-color:rgb(0,0,0)">- Chris</div></div><div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Tue, Sep 29, 2020 at 2:29 PM Mary Lou Carey <<a href="mailto:marylou@backuptelecom.com">marylou@backuptelecom.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">Just wanted to give everyone an update on the STIR/SHAKEN certification <br>
process because I know everyone has been confused about <br>
it......including me which is pretty sad because I've spent the last 20 <br>
years helping carriers turn up their networks and get access to direct <br>
numbering resources! I spoke with the FCC, STI-GA Director and NECA to <br>
figure out where the breakdown is for those telecom companies that <br>
currently don't have direct access to numbering resources (NPA-NXXs).<br>
<br>
Since some carriers have come to me with an IPES OCN and some have been <br>
denied, my first question was "Why are some Interconnected VOIP <br>
providers that don't have an FCC Numbering Authorization being assigned <br>
IPES OCNs when others are turned down?" I found out you can get an IPES <br>
OCN without the FCC Numbering Authorization if you submit an <br>
Interconnect Agreement with your current wholesale DID provider. <br>
However, the STI-GA won't approve you for a STIR/SHAKEN certificate if <br>
you don't have the FCC Numbering Authorization. Getting an FCC Numbering <br>
Authorization is where the breakdown occurs because even though IPES <br>
providers aren't required to order their own NPA-NXXs, the FCC requires <br>
the applicant to submit an Interconnection Agreement with a PSTN <br>
connection provider to get approved. After discussing this problem with <br>
both the FCC and STI-GA, I was told they are aware of the problem this <br>
requirement poses for carriers who don't have/want their own NXXs and <br>
are working to provide an alternative method for these companies to <br>
acquire their own STIR/SHAKEN certificate. Their goal is for every <br>
company to have their own STIR/SHAKEN certificate. At this point I'm not <br>
sure if the FCC will give an exemption to these carriers or assign a <br>
different type of certification, but either way it seems every company <br>
will have to submit paperwork to the FCC to qualify for their <br>
STIR/SHAKEN certificate.<br>
<br>
In the meantime, I found out that those companies who ONLY order DIDs <br>
from a wholesale DID provider CAN use their DID provider's token IF <br>
their wholesale DID provider agrees to let them. However, know that <br>
Wholesale DID providers can just as easily get their STIR/SHAKEN token <br>
revoked. Maybe even more easily because if any of their customers get <br>
caught certifying bad traffic they are held responsible for passing that <br>
traffic. Since moving your DIDs / traffic to a new wholesale provider is <br>
not a simple or inexpensive process and getting certified yourself if <br>
not a quick process, I would recommend that this be an interim solution <br>
and not a long term fix. My suggestion for those who don't need direct <br>
access to numbering resources is to go ahead and apply for the FCC <br>
numbering authorization with your existing wholesale DID provider <br>
agreement and just explain that you only need authorization to get a <br>
STIR/SHAKEN certificate. That way the FCC has all the information they <br>
need and can determine what to assign your company. At this time, the <br>
cut off date for getting your traffic certified is still June 2021. It <br>
takes anywhere from 2-6 months to get through the certification process <br>
(depending on what you already have in place), so it's not something <br>
that you should wait until the last minute to start.<br>
<br>
Hope this helps!<br>
<br>
<br>
MARY LOU CAREY<br>
BackUP Telecom Consulting<br>
Office: 615-791-9969<br>
Cell: 615-796-1111<br>
_______________________________________________<br>
VoiceOps mailing list<br>
<a href="mailto:VoiceOps@voiceops.org" target="_blank">VoiceOps@voiceops.org</a><br>
<a href="https://puck.nether.net/mailman/listinfo/voiceops" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://puck.nether.net/mailman/listinfo/voiceops</a><br>
</blockquote></div></div>