Local Access And Transport Area: Difference between revisions

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{{short description|Geographical area of the United States, used in telephone service}}

[[Image:LATAs.png|thumb|right|350px|Map of LATAs in the US]]

'''Local accessAccess andAnd transportTransport areaArea''' ('''LATA''') is a term useddefined in U.S.United States [[telecommunications]] regulation. ItA representsLATA is a geographical area of the United States under the terms of the [[Modification of Final Judgment]] (MFJ) entered by the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in Civil Action number 82-0192 or any other geographic area designated as a LATA in the [[National Exchange Carrier Association]], Inc. Tariff FCC No. 4. that precipitated the breakup of the original [[American Telephone & Telegraph|AT&T]] into the "[[Regional Bell Operating Company|Baby Bells]]" or created since that time for [[Plain old telephone service|wireline]] regulation.

Generally, a LATA represents an area within which a [[divested]] [[Regional Bell Operating Company]] (RBOC) is permitted to offer [[telephone exchange|exchange]] telecommunications and exchange access services. Under the terms of the MFJ, the RBOCs are generally prohibited from providing services that originate in one LATA and terminate in another.

LATA boundaries tend to be drawn around markets, and not necessarily along existing [[U.S. state|state]] or [[Telephone numbering plan#Area code|area code]] borders. Some LATAs cross over state boundaries, such as those for the [[New York metropolitan area]] and [[Greenwich, Connecticut]]; [[Chicago|Chicago, Illinois]]; [[Portland, Oregon]]; and areas between [[Maryland]], [[Virginia]], and [[West Virginia]]. Area codes and LATAs do not necessarily share boundaries; many LATAs exist in multiple area codes, and many area codes exist in multiple LATAs.

Originally, the LATAs were grouped into regions within which one particular RBOC was allowed to provide services. The LATAs in each of these regions are numbered beginning with the same digit. Generally, the LATAs were associated with [[telephone carrier|carrier]]s or other indications in the following manner:

{| class="wikitable"

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|0xx||unused||

|-

|1xx||[[New York (state)|New York]] & [[New England]]||[[NYNEX]] (now [[Verizon]] and [[FairPointConsolidated Communications]])

|-

|2xx||[[Mid-Atlantic States|Mid-Atlantic]]||[[Bell Atlantic]] (now Verizon and [[Frontier West Virginia|Frontier]])

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In addition to this list, two local carriers were made independent: [[Cincinnati Bell]] in the [[Cincinnati]] area, and [[Southern New England Telephone|SNET]] (a former unit of AT&T, sold to [[Frontier Communications|Frontier]]) in [[Connecticut]]. These were assigned LATAs in the 9xx range.

Since the [[Modification of Final Judgment|breakup of the originalBell AT&TSystem]] in 1984, however, some amount of [[deregulation]], as well as a number of phone company [[Mergers and acquisitions|merger]]s, have blurred the significance of these regions. A number of new LATAs have been formed within these regions since their inception, most beginning with the digit 9.

LATAs contribute to an often confusing aspect of [[long -distance calling|long -distance]] telephone service. Due to the various and overlapping regulatory limitations and inter-business arrangements, phone companies typically provide differing types of “long distance” service, each with potentially different rates:

* within same LATA, within same state

* within same LATA, between different states

* between different LATAs, within same state

* between different LATAs, between different states

Given the complexity of the legal and financial issues involved in each distinction, many long -distance companies tend to not explain the details of these different rates, which can lead to billing questions from surprised customers.

Local carriers have various alternative terms for LATAs such as “Service Area” by Pacific Bell in California, or “Regional Calling Area” by Verizon in Maryland.

In order toTo facilitate the sharing of [[Telcordia]] telephone routing databases between countries, LATAs were later defined for the provinces of [[Canada]], the other countries and territories of the [[North American Numbering Plan]], and [[Mexico]]. Aside from U.S. territories, LATAs have no regulatory purpose in these areas. In 2000, the [[Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission]] eliminated all Canadian provincial LATAs in favor of a single LATA for Canada (888).

No LATAs exist with a second digit of 0 or 1, which distinguished them from traditional [[Numbering plan area|area codes]].

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===US state LATAs===

The city or place name given with some LATAs is the name given to identify the LATA, not the limit of its boundary. Generally this is the most significant metropolitan area in the LATA. In some cases, a LATA is named after the largest phone exchange in the LATA that was historically served by an RBOC. For example, the largest city in the Pahrump LATA in Nevada is [[Las Vegas]]. Since Las Vegas was not historically served by an RBOC, the LATA is named after the smaller town of Pahrump, which was historically served by Nevada Bell (now AT&T Inc.). Also, listing under a state does not necessarily limit the LATA's territory to that state; there may be overlaps as well as [[enclave]]s. Areas that include notable portions of other states are explained, but not all LATA state overlaps may be detailed.

LATA boundaries are not always solidly defined. Inter-carrier agreements, change proposals to the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC), and new wiring developments into rural areas can and do often alter the effective borders between LATAs. Many sources on LATA boundary information conflict with each other at detailed levels. [[Telcordia]] data may provide the most up-to-date details of LATA inclusions.

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** Includes [[Rodeo, New Mexico|Rodeo]] and [[Virden, New Mexico|Virden]], New Mexico

* 980 [[Navajo Nation]] (Arizona portion)

** Includes southwestern [[ShiprockSan Juan County, New Mexico|ShiprockUtah]], New Mexico

====Arkansas====

* 526 [[Fort Smith, Arkansas|Fort Smith]]

** Includes part of [[Oklahoma]] from [[Pocola, Oklahoma|Pocola]] to [[Moffett, Oklahoma|Moffett]]

** Includes section of [[Oklahoma]] from [[Colcord, Oklahoma|Colcord]] to [[Watts, Oklahoma|Watts]]

** Includes small part of [[ColcordBarry County, Missouri|ColcordBarry County]], [[Missouri]]

** Includes area of [[Oklahoma]] near [[Maysville, Arkansas|Maysville]], Arkansas

** Includes area of [[Oklahoma]] near [[Uniontown, Arkansas|Uniontown]], Arkansas

* 528 [[Little Rock, Arkansas|Little Rock]]

** Includes [[BlythevilleWatson, Missouri|BlythevilleOklahoma]], Missouri

** Includes [[New Home, Oklahoma|New Home]], Oklahoma

* 530 [[Pine Bluff, Arkansas|Pine Bluff]]

** Includes parts of [[Louisiana]] around [[DodgeJunction City, ArkansasLouisiana|DodgeJunction City]] and, [[Junction City, Arkansas|Junction CityLouisiana]], Arkansas

====California====

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====Colorado====

* 656 [[Denver]]

** Extends into [[Nebraska]] near [[Peetz, Colorado|Peetz]] and [[Julesburg, Colorado|Julesburg]], Colorado

* 658 [[Colorado Springs, Colorado|Colorado Springs]]

====Connecticut====

* 920

====Delaware====

* 228 <ref name="Delaware">LATA 228 includes all of [[Delaware]] as well as the metro area of [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Philadelphia]], Pennsylvania.</ref>

====Washington, D.C.====

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* 952 [[Tampa, Florida|Tampa]]

* 953 [[Tallahassee, Florida|Tallahassee]]

*Florida is a special case in which state regulators have also assigned 5-digit LATA codes which overlay the Federally-assigned 3-digit LATAs. See map on the right for details. Some carriers may refer to these by the 3-digit LATA, others by the 5-digit.

====Georgia====

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====Kansas====

*524 [[Kansas City, KSKansas|Kansas City]] (Seesee Missouri for details)]]

*532 [[Wichita, Kansas|Wichita]]

*534 [[Topeka, Kansas|Topeka]]

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====North Dakota====

*636 [[Brainerd, Minnesota|Brainerd]], Minnesota-[[Fargo, North Dakota|Fargo]], North Dakota <ref name="fargo" />

*638 [[Bismarck, North Dakota|Bismarck]]

**Includes portions of [[Montana]] near [[Beach, North Dakota|Beach]] and [[Squaw Gap, North Dakota|SquawHomesteaders Gap]], North Dakota

====Ohio====

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*670 [[Eugene, Oregon|Eugene]]

*672 [[Portland, Oregon|Portland]]

** Includes [[Southwestern Washington|Southwestern]] [[Washington (state)|Washington]] from [[Willapa Bay]] to [[Goldendale, Washington|Goldendale]]

====Pennsylvania====

*226 [[Harrisburg, Pennsylvania|Harrisburg]]

*228 [[Philadelphia]]<ref name="Delaware">LATA 228 includes all of [[Delaware]] as well as the metro area of [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Philadelphia]], Pennsylvania.</ref>

*230 [[Altoona, Pennsylvania|Altoona]]

*232 Northeast[[Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania|Wilkes-Barre]]/[[Scranton, Pennsylvania|Scranton]]

*234 [[Pittsburgh]]

*924 [[Erie, Pennsylvania|Erie]]

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** Includes northwestern tip of [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]

*474 [[Knoxville, Tennessee|Knoxville]]

*956 [[Bristol, Tennessee|Bristol]]-[[Kingsport, Tennessee|Kingsport]]-[[Johnson CountyCity, Tennessee|Johnson CountyCity]]

** Includes part of [[Virginia]] from [[Abingdon, Virginia|Abingdon]] to [[Wytheville, Virginia|Wytheville]]

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*550 [[Abilene, Texas|Abilene]]

*552 [[Dallas]]

*554 [[Longview, Texas|Longview]], [[Kilgore, Texas|Kilgore]]

** Includes [[Miller County, Arkansas|Miller County]], Arkansas

*556 [[Waco, Texas|Waco]]

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====Virginia====

*236 [[Arlington County, Virginia|Arlington]], [[Fairfax County, Virginia|Fairfax]], [[Prince William County, Virginia|Prince William]], and [[Stafford County, Virginia|Stafford]] counties, and enclosed [[independent city|cities]]. ''See [[#Washington, DCD.C.|Washington, D.C.]]''

*244 [[Roanoke, Virginia|Roanoke]]

*246 [[Culpeper, Virginia|Culpeper]]

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*928 [[Charlottesville, Virginia|Charlottesville]]

*929 [[Edinburg, Virginia|Edinburg]]

*932 (Shared with WV)

====Washington====

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*676 [[Spokane, Washington|Spokane]]

** Includes parts of [[Oregon]] including [[Milton-Freewater, Oregon|Milton-Freewater]] and [[Troy, Oregon|Troy]]

** Includes a section of [[Idaho]] from [[Lewiston, Idaho|Lewiston]] to [[Grangeville, Idaho|Grangeville]], up to [[Troy, Idaho|Troy]], and possibly [[Elk City, Idaho|Elk City]]

** May includeIncludes [[Tensed, Idaho|Tensed]], Idaho

====West Virginia====

*254 [[Charleston, West Virginia|Charleston]]

*256 Clarksburg

** Includes part of [[Virginia]] east of [[White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia|White Sulphur Springs]], West Virginia

*240 Martinsburg

*256 [[Clarksburg, West Virginia|Clarksburg]]

*932 (overlap with VA)

*932 [[Bluefield, West Virginia|Bluefield]]

** Includes a strip of [[Virginia]] from south of Bluefield to the [[Kentucky]] border

====Wisconsin====

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====Wyoming====

*654 Wyoming

===U.S. territory LATAs===

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== Canada ==

As LATAs exist for US regulatory purposes, where they serve as a demarcation between intra-LATA calls (handled by regional Bell operating companies) and inter-LATA calls (handled by interstate long -distance carriers such as AT&T), they have no legal significance in [[Canada]].

As of 2000, all of Canada (except for non-geographic numbers) is identified as LATA 888.

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===Local interconnection region===

Canada does define '''local interconnection regions''' (LIR's), which determine where points of interconnection (POI) must be provided by [[Competitive local exchange carrier|competing local exchange]] and mobile carriers to provide [[local number portability]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2007/dt2007-23.htm|title = Rogers Wireless Partnership Part VII application regarding the requirement for a central office code in each served exchange|date = 12 April 2007}}</ref> A Canadian LIR is geographically smaller than a US LATA, typically comparable in size to a small city's flat-rate local calling area or to an entire large [[regional municipality]]. In areas where a small-city [[Digital Multiplex System]] controls a group of [[remote switching centre]]s, one for each surrounding village, the local interconnect region normally includes each exchange in the city plus all downstream remotes of those exchanges.<ref>[http://www.localcallingguide.com/lca_listlir.php List of Canadian LIRs] on localcallingguide.com</ref> In a [[Toronto]]-sized city, the LIR will include only the city itself.

While the LIRs resemble local calling areas in geographic size, there are some key differences:

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* LIR's closely follow network topology, which often does not match a local flat-rate calling area as local calling is defined by arbitrary regulatory constructs.

One exampleExample: The tiny unincorporated village of [[Beebe Plain]], divided by the [[Quebec]]-[[Vermont]] border, is served by +1-819-876 [[Rock Island, Quebec]], Canada (a remote station controlled from [[Magog, Quebec|Magog]]) and +1-802-873 [[Derby Line, Vermont]], USA (a remote station controlled from [[St. Johnsbury, Vermont|St. Johnsbury]]). Magog and St. Johnsbury are both a long-distance call from anywhere in Beebe Plain, even though Canadian subscribers can place local calls to [[Sherbrooke]], US subscribers can locally call [[Newport (city), Vermont|Newport]] and an international call within the village is local. An LIR assignment which follows network topology places the Canadian remote station in Magog's LIR, not Sherbrooke's LIR.<ref>[http://www.localcallingguide.com/lca_exch.php?exch=172360 Rock Island QC] on localcallingguide.com</ref>

==See also==

*[[Modification of Final Judgment]]

*[[Regional Bell Operating Company]]

*[[Local Exchange Routing Guide]]

*[[Telcordia]]

==Notes==

{{reflist}}

==External links==

*[http://www.robotics.net/clec/LATA_Map.html U.S. LATA map and list]

*[http://www.latamaps.com/ LATAMaps.com]

[[Category:Telephony]]