PSC overturns NANPA denial, grants Verizon Access request for 3,000 number blocks

The Public Service Commission on Aug. 6, 2025, voted unanimously to overturn the North American Numbering Plan Administrator’s (NANPA) denial of a request by MCI Metro Access Transmission Services LLC (DBA Verizon Access Transmission Services) for 3,000 thousand‑blocks of telephone numbers. Staff recommended overturning the NANPA decision under the safety‑valve procedure described in Federal Communications Commission order 01‑362 after concluding the carrier had demonstrated a verifiable need for the requested resources.

Jennifer Purvis, appearing for staff, said Verizon Access originally applied to NANPA because its existing inventory could not meet a large business customer’s request; NANPA denied the request for failing to meet a 75% utilization requirement in the thousand‑block pooling guidelines. Purvis explained that FCC Order 01‑362 delegates authority to state commissions to overturn NANPA denials when a verifiable need is shown and recommended the commission use that delegated authority in this case.

Doug Smith, vice president for state government affairs for Verizon, supported staff’s analysis and urged approval. Commissioners questioned how surplus blocks are handled after a large allocation; Verizon and staff replied leftovers return to the carrier’s inventory and NANPA’s usual allocation processes govern subsequent distributions.

Chair Hoover moved to overturn NANPA’s denial and grant Verizon Access’s request for the 3,000 blocks as described in the filing. The motion passed with a unanimous aye vote from present commissioners.

Action: motion to overturn NANPA denial and grant 3,000 blocks; motion carried unanimously at the Aug. 6 meeting.