The FCC continues to slowly, but surely, make progress towards launching the Reassigned Number Database that it first proposed in June 2017 and then ultimately voted to create in December 2018.  On December 1, 2020, the Commission issued a news release announcing it has selected SomosGov, Inc. as the first Reassigned Numbers Database Administrator (RNDA).  In its new role, SomosGov will create and operate a comprehensive Reassigned Numbers Database that will contain reassigned numbers information from each provider that obtains North American Numbering Plan U.S. geographic numbers and toll-free numbers.  

Once the database is up and running, callers will be able to check the database to determine whether a number has been potentially reassigned to a new subscriber and thus avoid calling consumers who do not wish to receive their calls.  Those marketers who use the database to remove reassigned numbers from their list will also qualify for a safe harbor, which was added to the 2018 Order after Commissioners argued that, since the possibility exists the database may be imperfect, callers who incur the costs of scrubbing their lists against it should be shielded from litigation.  The ultimate rollout of the database will undoubtedly be a welcome development for businesses that place calls and send text messages based on consent they previously received for those numbers. 

SomosGov, a familiar player in the telecommunications industry, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Somos, Inc., the current North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA) and Pooling Administrator (PA).  The NANPA administers the North American Numbering Plan on behalf of its member countries, providing numbering administration functions for telecommunications services.  The PA administers number pooling functions in the United States and serves as the Routing Number Administrator for the United States, responsible for administering non-dialable numbers used for routing emergency calls and other purposes.  SomosGov will now work as the RNDA under a five-year contract, with options for the FCC to continue the contract for up to a total of eight years.