NeuStar Initiates Mandatory Number Pooling Trial
For Texas' 512 Area Code;
Administration Begins Today

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Texas' 512 area code begins a mandatory pooling trial today, according to NeuStar, Inc., the state's pooling administrator. This pooling trial effects the central Texas region that surrounds Austin.

Number pooling is the technology that allows phone numbers to be assigned in blocks of 1,000, instead of the telephone network-mandated structure of 10,000 numbers blocks, which has been in place since 1947. Pooling provides efficient management of numbering resources and proves to extend the life of area codes.

"Pooling trials, particularly the first one in Illinois' 847 area code, have demonstrated to us and to the industry that this is a very effective solution to the country's depleting number resources," said Barry Bishop, Director of Numbering Services for NeuStar. "We are extremely pleased with the efficient conservation that thousand block pooling provides, and we are confident that this will prove again with area code 512."

Several states have actively sought number pooling as a number conservation measure; NeuStar has already been serving as the pooling administrator in number pooling trials, both voluntary and mandatory, for area codes in Illinois (708, 847, 630, 312, and 773), New York (212, 516, 718 and 716), and California (310 and 415). NeuStar has also been selected as pooling administrator by the following states for upcoming pooling trials in the following area codes, slated to begin later this year and early 2001:

• California - 714 and 909
• New York - 518
• Connecticut - 860
• Florida - 954, 561 and 904

NeuStar serves the entire telecommunications industry as a key partner in its role as the neutral administrator of the North American Numbering Plan (NANPA) and Local Number Portability (LNPA).

As the NANPA, NeuStar is the sole administrator of all area codes and central office codes (or exchanges) in North America.

As the LNPA, NeuStar manages the database that is a critical component for the routing of all telephone calls in North America. All telecommunications carriers in the United States and Canada connect to NeuStar's Number Portability Administration Center (NPAC) in Chicago. There, advanced LNP technology enables customers to keep their same phone numbers if they switch local telephone service providers. The LNP system also conserves numbers and facilitates competition within the industry.

NeuStar, based in Washington, D.C., was formed as an independent company committed to administering high-quality, evenhanded and competitively neutral services to the communications industry. Pooling FAQs and other background information can be found on the following NeuStar web sites: www.nanpa.com or www.numberpool.com. Visit NeuStar online at www.neustar.com.

SOURCE NeuStar