Neutrality

Neutrality is at the foundation of Neustar’s success in serving the communications industry. Neustar has in place a comprehensive, corporate-wide neutrality program designed to ensure compliance with the stringent neutrality requirements imposed on its activities as the administrator of the Canadian NPAC and various Domain Name System Registry contracts. This neutrality program is unmatched by any other entity in the market today.

As the NPAC Administrator, Neustar must treat all applicants for resources and users fairly and without discrimination, which ensure that access to the shared data and resources of the NPAC is fair, equal and secure and is used only for essential permitted uses.

Under rules and orders issued by the Canadian LNP Consortium, Inc. to provide telephone number portability services, Neustar is required to comply with numerous neutrality obligations . Under its neutrality standards, Neustar is required to operate the number portability functions in a neutral and impartial manner, which means that Neustar cannot favor any particular communications service provider, telecommunications industry segment or technology or group of telecommunications consumers over any other service provider, industry segment, technology or group of consumers in the conduct of those businesses. Neustar is examined regularly on its compliance with these requirements by independent third parties. Also, Neustar is required to maintain complete confidentiality of all competitive customer information obtained during the conduct of our business.

Neustar has in place a comprehensive, corporate-wide neutrality program designed to ensure compliance with the stringent neutrality requirements set forth in its NPAC and Registry contracts. This neutrality program is unmatched by any other entity in the market today. Among other things, the Neustar code of conduct, which was approved by the FCC and the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission ( CRTC ), requires that Neustar:

  • Never directly or indirectly, shows any preference or provide any special consideration to any service provider;
  • Prohibits access by its stockholders to user data and proprietary information of service providers served by Neustar (other than access of employee stockholders that is incident to the performance of our numbering administration duties);
  • Ensures that no user data or proprietary information from any service provider is disclosed to us, other than the sharing of information that is obtained in connection with the performance of our duties;
  • Does not share confidential information about our business services and operations with employees of any service provider;
  • Refrains from simultaneously employing, whether full time or part time, any individual who is an employee of a service provider, and that none of our employees hold any interest, financial or otherwise, in any company that would violate these neutrality standards;
  • Prohibits any individual who serves in the management of any of our stockholders to be involved directly in our day-to-day operations;
  • Implements certain requirements regarding the composition of our board of directors;
  • Allows no member of its board of directors simultaneously serve on the board of directors of a service provider; and
  • Hires an independent party to conduct a quarterly neutrality audit to ensure that Neustar and its stockholders comply with all the provisions of its code of conduct.

In connection with the neutrality requirements imposed by our code of conduct and under our contracts, Neustar is subject to a number of neutrality audits that are performed on a quarterly and semi-annual basis. In connection with these audits, all Neustar employees, directors and officers must sign a neutrality certification that states that they are familiar with Neustar’s neutrality requirements and have not violated them. 

Neutrality Facts

  • All Neustar employees, board members and designated contractors are required to certify their compliance with Neustar's neutrality standards by executing a Quarterly Neutrality Certification.
  • Neustar undergoes nine independent annual audits with respect to neutrality, privacy and security.

Neustar has implemented procedures for the filing of a complaint by anyone who believes that Neustar has violated its neutrality requirements. Learn more about Neustar Inc.’s Neutrality Requirements and the Neutrality Complaint Process .