Since its inception, the Council has provided the Commission with critically important recommendations regarding numbering issues. These recommendations have addressed a myriad of issues, including wireline/wireless integration for local number portability, abbreviated dialing arrangements, the neutrality of toll free database administration and the feasibility of local number portability for 500/900 numbers. In addition, the NANC has recently made recommendations concerning methods for optimizing the use of numbering resources, the assignment of Feature Group D Carrier Identification Codes to switchless resellers, and technical specifications for a National Pooling Administrator and the North American Numbering Plan Administrator.

NANC members include representatives from local exchange carriers (LECs), interexchange carriers, wireless providers, manufacturers, state regulators, consumer groups and telecommunications associations. Meetings are held once a month in Washington DC and are open to the public.

The NANC Chair is Thomas Koutsky, who is the co-founder and Resident Scholar of the Phoenix Center for Advanced Legal & Economic Public Policy Studies in Washington D.C. He has extensive experience in both government and in private industry, and is an active speaker and writer on issues related to telecommunications competition. Mr. Koutsky was formerly a senior attorney with the FCC’s Office of General Counsel. He replaced Bob Atkinson, the Executive Director of the Columbia Institute for Tele-Information (CITT) at Columbia University's Business School in New York, who served as the third NANC chairman.

In carrying out its responsibilities, the Council will assure that NANP and LNP administration supports the following policy objectives: (1) that NANP and LNP administration facilitates entry into the communications marketplace by making numbering resources available on an efficient, timely basis to communications service providers; (2) that NANP and LNP administration does not unduly favor or disfavor any particular industry segment or group of consumers; (3) that NANP and LNP administration does not unduly favor one technology over another; (4) that NANP and LNP administration gives consumers easy access to the public switched telephone network; and (5) that NANP and LNP administration ensures that the interests of all NANP member countries are addressed fairly and efficiently, fostering continued integration of the NANP across NANP member countries.