SECTION 165:55-7-2. Telephone numbers and changes

(a)   A telephone number shall be deemed a national resource and is not the property of either the telecommunications service provider or the end-user. Initial telephone numbers for end-users establishing a local exchange service account shall be assigned by the telecommunications service provider then serving the end-user. Local exchange service end-users shall not be required to change telephone numbers solely due to a change in telecommunications service providers. The telecommunications service provider may change the number assigned to a customer upon reasonable notice but only in order to give better service and not as an accommodation to another customer. Changes in telephone numbering plans may be made upon reasonable notice, in order to meet the needs of expansion or better service. Unless changed by the number portability requirements or the numbering administration guidelines established by the FCC, a customer who supersedes an account in order to obtain the telephone number of a previous customer will accept all liabilities for that account. The superseding customer will then retain the telephone number until the account is superseded or the superseding customer has no further use of it for service purposes. Any unresolved dispute arising between end-users or between an end-user and a telecommunications service provider over use of a telephone number may be mediated by CSD.

(b)   Whenever an end-user's number is changed on the initiative of the telecommunications service provider after the directory has been issued, the telecommunications service provider shall at no charge to the end-user intercept all calls to the former number and give the calling party the new number. Such intercept service shall be provided until the next directory is published, if the central office equipment permits and the number is not in service or the end-user agrees otherwise. Such numbers have last priority for reassignment. In the event the change in an end-user's telephone number is necessitated by action of the telecommunications service provider providing intercept service, the telecommunications service provider serving the end-user shall be exempt from any charges for intercept service

(c)   Whenever the end-user's number is changed by reason of change of location or service to the end-user, or at their request, intercept service will be provided for a reasonable time (of at least thirty (30) days) if central office equipment permits and the number is not in service.

(d)   In the event of error in the listed number of any end-user in the telecommunications service provider's directory, the telecommunications service provider shall, at no charge to the end-user, intercept all calls to the listed number until the next directory is published provided central office equipment permits and the number has not been assigned to another end-user, or make other reasonable arrangements. In such case, and in the case of an error in or omission of the name listing of an end-user, the correct listing and number shall be available through directory assistance. If the directory listing error is caused by the telecommunications service provider providing intercept service, the telecommunications service provider serving the end-user shall be exempt from any charges for intercept service.

(e)   In areas equipped with E911 emergency service, whenever the end-user's number is changed by reason of change of location or service to the end-user or there is a change in service provider with or without a change to the end-user's number, the telecommunications service provider shall report such changes to the appropriate E911 emergency number database within two (2) business days, or as required by agreement with appropriate E911 agencies within the state, after completion of service orders. In the event of an error report, the telecommunications service provider shall correct the error within two (2) business days, unless the agreement with the appropriate E911 agency allows otherwise. This subsection shall not apply to telecommunications service providers who provide data service only.

[Source: Amended at 13 Ok Reg 2437, eff 7-1-96; Amended at 16 Ok Reg 2261, eff 7-1-99; Amended at 18 Ok Reg 2415, eff 7-1-01; Amended at 34 Ok Reg 989, eff 9-11-17]