Defined Terms for U.S. NPAC Service Provider and Service Bureau Users

User Data—All data provided by NPAC Users to the regional NPACs is User Data.  Data that is merely identical to User Data, but is not obtained from the NPAC (either directly or indirectly), is not User Data. User Data may be provided only to an NPAC User; however, an entity that is not a User may receive data derived from User Data.

Permitted Use—User Data, or data derived from User Data, may be used only for the purpose of routing, rating, or billing, of calls, or performing network maintenance in connection with the provision of telecommunications services, provided however that the activity is impacted by porting or pooling. No other use of User Data is permitted. An entity that merely relays data between NPAC Users and the NPAC/SMS is not subject to the Permitted Use requirement, but is responsible to assure that recipients of the relayed User Data are themselves NPAC Users. Finally, commercial exploitation of User Data is expressly prohibited, as it is not a Permitted Use. On behalf of the service providers whose data resides in the NPAC, the North American Portability Management LLC has clarified the meaning of the terms comprising Permitted Use and commercial exploitation of User Data:

  • Routing—The phrase “routing of calls” means transporting of calls.
  • Rating—The phrase “rating of calls" means determining the applicable charge for calls.
  • Billing—The phrase “billing of calls" means rendering a bill for calls.

Calls—The term “calls” refers to the transmission of information (e.g., video, pictures, audio [voice, music], messages, text, data, or combinations of these) by use of a telephone number (NPA-NXX-XXXX), which may include the transmission of signaling messages or the transmission of provisioning data associated with information sessions, subscribers, and network equipment and devices (e.g., discovery, parameter negotiation, establishment, connection, maintenance, disconnection, presence, location, authentication, billing, and usage). Internet addresses and naming protocols (URLs, URIs, IP addresses, etc.) also are considered call routing information, so long as these items are associated with a telephone number.

Network Maintenance—The phrase “network...maintenance in connection with providing telecommunications services” means any activity or process undertaken to ensure that operational, administrative, compliance, repair, and other functions of the User, including without limitation those concerning systems, databases used for telecommunications purposes, or networks, can be performed in an efficient, timely, or accurate manner. Network Maintenance includes, by way of illustration and not limitation, the following:

  • Using the activation broadcast to determine when systems (such as LIDB, CNAM, Voice Mailbox, PSTN or other switching device, etc.) may be updated to reflect loss or gain of a customer.
  • Using the User Data to determine current SP to verify that a telephone number can be ported from a current SP before programming a system to anticipate port-in of the number.
  • Using the User Data to determine a TN’s current SP to determine whether to take a trouble report or to comply with a legal request.
  • Using the User Data to determine appropriate call routing translations.
  • Using the User Data to administer a telephone number assignment system.
  • Using the User Data to administer an inter-carrier billing system.
  • Using the User Data to allow operator services system to determine whether a call may be alternate billed (i.e., to identify serving carrier to determine whether contract is in place).
  • Using the User Data to administer databases used for network maintenance purposes.

Commercial Exploitation of User Data—This prohibited use refers to the use of User Data, or data derived from User Data, for the purpose of marketing telecommunications services to consumers of telecommunications services or identifying those consumers to obtain or retain them as customers.  Merely deriving an economic benefit from a service that uses or discloses User Data, or data derived from User Data, does not constitute commercial exploitation.

Service Provider—The term “Service Provider” includes any entity to which PSTN numbering resources are assigned by the NANPA or the national Pooling Administrator. For example, a "class 1" stand-alone VoIP provider is a Service Provider.

Telecommunications Services—The term “telecommunications services” includes "telecommunications-related services."