VOL. 13, NO. 21
May 22, 2017
UPCOMING EVENTS
INCOMPAS IN THE NEWS
MEMBER NEWS
FCC DEADLINES
FCC Net Neutrality Vote:
"FCC's ISP Love Affair a
Streaming Heartbreaker" 
On May 18, the FCC voted to continue with a proceeding aimed at dramatically changing American's ability to access a free and open internet.

In response to the vote, INCOMPAS CEO Chip Pickering, said, "The FCC's love affair with a few large ISPs is going to be a heartbreaker for consumers, small businesses and streaming services. Today's vote continues pushing the internet down a dangerous path, one that threatens both freedom of expression and free markets. The current approach to preserve open internet rules is consistent with Justice Scalia's views of internet access service, and are the first open internet protections to be upheld by the courts in over a decade -- a decade in which both parties have agreed ensuring an open internet is critical for the nation." 

He added that the "[f]ailed legal arguments and failed ideology presented by those seeking to let AT&T and Comcast block, throttle and control the internet will do great harm to upstarts and entrepreneurs, faith and religious organizations, and conservative and rural voices longing to be heard." 
Build Your Business with an INCOMPAS Membership 
INCOMPAS serves as the advocate for the competitive communications industry, supporting the growth of our member companies' businesses and providing opportunities for collaboration throughout the industry to help you get more exposure and build your business.

  Become an INCOMPAS member and your company will:
  • Gain greater visibility through the INCOMPAS website, newsletters and social media following;
  • Take advantage of our extended reach throughout the industry to promote your press releases, white papers and corporate profiles;
  • Increase networking opportunities that boost sales; and
  • Receive discounts on exhibit space, meeting rooms and registration at the INCOMPAS Show, coming up October 15-17 in San Francisco.
If you are a member, are you taking advantage of these benefits? Make sure you get engaged and make use of your membership!

Questions about membership renewals or member benefits? Email Natalie DeHart or call 202-367-2373.

Interested in joining? Prospective members should email Julia Strow or call 202-296-6650. 
Q&A with Kathy Timko, Head of LNPA Services at iconectiv 
Kathy Timko, senior vice president and head of Local Number Portability Administration (LNPA) Services at iconectiv, answers some frequently asked questions about the LNPA transition.

Where does onboarding stand?  
More than half of current NPAC users have started registration and are preparing for the transition. We encourage unregistered users to begin the registration process as soon as possible. The success of the transition is dependent on full industry participation.  

When will the transition be finished?  
We are on track to complete the transition in the second quarter of 2018, with a final acceptance date in May 2018. iconectiv shares responsibility for the launch of the NPAC with the incumbent LNPA and the industry at large. Full cooperation from all parties is critical to ensuring a timely transition.  

How is iconectiv preparing to be the next LNPA?  
iconectiv is a global leader in number portability and has been preparing to be the next LNPA for years. We are working closely with the North American Portability Management (NAPM) and Transition Oversight Manager (TOM) to develop a secure and cost-effective NPAC solution. Onboarding is underway and industry testing began on May 15. We also offer a series of user education resources. Please visit our Resources page for a transition overview. 

Who is required to register? 
All NPAC users are required to register for the iconectiv NPAC. Registration is open for service providers (SP), service bureaus (SB), and providers of telecom-related services (PTRS), users who engage in the business of telemarketing, and users of the enhanced law enforcement platform (ELEP). Please visit www.numberportability.com to begin the registration process, if you have not already done so. 

What are the most crucial components of the transition? 
The most crucial transition activities include user registration, industry testing and data migration of the current data into the new NPAC.
Top 10 Facts: The NPAC Transition
Don't put your company's registration on hold

  1. Registration for the iconectiv NPAC is underway - Registration has begun for all NPAC user groups and more than half have already started registration. Please visit www.numberportability.com and click "Get Started" to register if you have not already done so.
  2. Registration is mandatory - All current NPAC users who would like to continue to access NPAC data and services must register with iconectiv. Users should register as soon as possible.
  3. Each user group has a separate timeline for onboarding - iconectiv encourages all NPAC users to begin the onboarding process as early as possible for their user group.
  4. Industry testing began in May and continues through mid-February 2018 - NPAC users must complete registration to participate in testing. Further information on testing can be found at https://numberportability.com/resources/videos/.
  5. Industry testing is mandatory for NPAC users with a mechanized interface - Scheduling is underway and once your local system is certified with the iconectiv NPAC, you will be able to participate in testing.
  6. Testing is optional for users with a non-mechanized interface - Optional testing for all users will be conducted in the second half of 2017 after required testing is complete. This includes testing for users of the Low Tech Interface (LTI) GUI or Help Desk, users of the Wireless Do Not Call (WDNC) service, users of the ELEP, and those who use NPAC reports or bulk data downloads.
  7. Training will be available for users of the LTI GUI - Online training will be provided and iconectiv's next industry webcast will focus on registration, training and testing for the iconectiv LTI GUI.
  8. Registration, training, and testing are free - Production-related fees will only be collected after the transition is complete.
  9. The NPAC will go live on May 25, 2018 - This is the targeted final acceptance date for all NPAC users in all seven U.S. number portability regions.
  10. Help is available - The iconectiv help desk is available Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET at npac@iconectiv.numberportability.com or 844-820-8039.
House Energy & Commerce Introduce Comprehensive Infrastructure Package
On May 17, Democrats on the Energy and Commerce Committee introduced a broad 21st century infrastructure package that includes key areas within the Committee's jurisdiction, including broadband, drinking water, healthcare, the electric grid, brownfields and renewable energy infrastructure. The Leading Infrastructure For Tomorrow's America Act, or LIFT America Act, (H.R. 2479) sets out five years of funding for essential infrastructure improvements, job growth, and greater protections for public health and the environment.
INCOMPAS Congratulates David Redl on NTIA Nomination
On May 17, President Trump announced the nomination of longtime House Energy and Commerce staffer, David Redl, to be the administrator at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). 
 
INCOMPAS said, " President Trump has made a great choice in tapping longtime Capitol Hill staffer David Redl to serve as the head of the NTIA. Experienced and substantive, Redl is well suited to the task of helping deploy America's broadband networks, wired and wireless, to more American consumers and businesses. Redl's grasp of spectrum policy will be an asset for the administration as they seek to build infrastructure and create jobs."