The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced that companies must now comply with a rule that requires reporting the most recent date of permanent disconnection to the Reassigned Numbers Database. This requirement comes from the 2018 Second Report and Order and compliance is effective as of March 10, 2021. The rule is designed to help manage issues related to reassigned phone numbers. The document also mentions that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approved the information collection associated with this rule on June 2, 2020.
Simple Explanation
The FCC has made a rule that phone companies must tell them when a phone number is permanently disconnected so that people don't accidentally get calls meant for someone else who had that number before. This is like making sure Santa knows when kids move houses so he doesn't bring gifts to the wrong place.