Subject: MIDWEST LNP SCP CALL NOTICE FOR 10/7 AND NOTES

TO: MIDWEST LNP SCP REQUIREMENTS SUBCOMMITTEE

SUBJECT: NOTICE FOR CONFERENCE CALL OCTOBER 7

NOTES FROM STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 25

FROM: WAYNE HEINMILLER (847-248-5415 wayne.heinmiller@ameritech.com)

Our next conference call will be 10 AM CDT on Tuesday, October 7,

1997. A call in number will be distributed later. At this time, I

have no specific agenda items for the meeting, and would expect the

call to primarily allow the sharing of information regarding

whatever final rollout schedule is adopted for LNP in Chicago.

NOTES FROM THE ILLINOIS LNP STEERING COMMITTEE MTG 9/25

The start of commercial LNP for Chicago is being delayed a few weeks

to allow correction and confirmation for some items associated with

the NPAC. The carriers have not yet been able to agree on when

these items can expected to be resolved, so a specific start date

has not yet been determined. The carriers expect to determine a new

start date no later than a conference call on 10/1.

There also appears to be some inconsistencies in how each carrier

has implemented support for NPA splits. Apparently NPAC

documentation was not as precise as everyone thought. There will be

an attempt to determine how quickly NPA split functionality can be

corrected, hopefully resulting in identification of the changes

needed no later than 10/1.

The committee determined that any "permissive" arrangements

established in order to perform the trial would expire when the

trial ended. That includes gateway screening changes to allow

passing LIDB messages or other SS7 messaging. So providers may need

to review their existing inter-network agreements to determine if any

changes to those agreements are desirable.

(I pointed out that LNP has two general impacts on SS7 messaging

such as LIDB queries. First, some networks may not have any

agreements with a given provider, and would block any messages from

that provider which they receive as a result of LNP redirection.

Second, some networks may have agreements in place, but may block

messages they receive because those messages arrive over links which

would not normally carry messages from the provider. As a result of

the expiration of the permisive trial arrangments,

carriers/providers need to review their inter-network agreements as

well as inter-network screening to determine if changes are

desirable for LNP.)

The committee also discussed possible target dates for number

pooling for the 847 area code. Feedback from carriers indicated

potential ready dates from 1Q98 through 1Q99. Pooling cannot start

until all carriers are prepared. There appears to be more

willingness to support pooling earlier if carriers can be assured it

will be phased in on a national basis. National carriers are

concerned that widespread, immediate adoption of pooling on a

national basis would overwhelm their LNP resources, which were not

designed for the capacity. Efforts are underway to determine if

their is a way the industry can agree to a phased in approach for

pooling. Everyone is encouraged to continue their efforts to find

ways to resolve roadblocks to number pooling. (I will be pursuing

requests for changes to the NPAC interface as we've discussed with

the NPAC subcommittee.)

UPDATE FROM NPAC SUBCOMMITTEE CALL OF 10/1

The NPAC subcommittee has developed a revised schedule for the start

of commercial availability of LNP in Chicago. They have identified

some details that need to be cleaned up prior to roll-out.

Availability will begin no later than 11/3, and may begin sooner if

the various items get buttoned up sooner.