diff --git a/lib/diffo/provider/assigner/assigner.ex b/lib/diffo/provider/assigner/assigner.ex
index fbc2229..58bebe8 100644
--- a/lib/diffo/provider/assigner/assigner.ex
+++ b/lib/diffo/provider/assigner/assigner.ex
@@ -13,13 +13,26 @@ defmodule Diffo.Provider.Assigner do
   alias Diffo.Provider.AssignableCharacteristic
   alias Diffo.Provider.AssignmentRelationship
 
+  @assignable_resource_states [:installing, :operating]
+  @assignable_service_states [:feasibilityChecked, :reserved, :inactive, :active, :suspended]
+
+  @doc """
+  The resource lifecycle states from which an instance may make assignments.
+  """
+  def assignable_resource_states, do: @assignable_resource_states
+
+  @doc """
+  The service lifecycle states from which an instance may make assignments.
+  """
+  def assignable_service_states, do: @assignable_service_states
+
   @doc """
   Assign a thing using the pool declared via `pools do` on the instance module.
   The thing name is looked up from the pool declaration.
   """
   def assign(result, changeset, pool_name)
       when is_struct(result) and is_struct(changeset, Ash.Changeset) and is_atom(pool_name) do
-    with :ok <- check_lifecycle(result) do
+    with :ok <- assignable_state?(result) do
       case result.__struct__.pool(pool_name) do
         nil -> {:error, "pool #{pool_name} not declared on #{result.__struct__}"}
         pool -> assign(result, changeset, pool_name, pool.thing)
@@ -61,17 +74,23 @@ defmodule Diffo.Provider.Assigner do
     end
   end
 
-  defp check_lifecycle(%{type: :resource, resource_state: state}) when state != :operating,
-    do:
-      {:error, "cannot assign: resource lifecycle state is #{inspect(state)}, must be :operating"}
-
-  defp check_lifecycle(%{type: :service, service_state: state})
-       when state not in [:active, :inactive],
-       do:
-         {:error,
-          "cannot assign: service state is #{inspect(state)}, must be :active or :inactive"}
-
-  defp check_lifecycle(_), do: :ok
+  @doc """
+  Returns `:ok` if the instance is in a lifecycle state that permits assignment,
+  otherwise `{:error, reason}`.
+  """
+  def assignable_state?(%{type: :resource, resource_state: state})
+      when state not in @assignable_resource_states,
+      do:
+        {:error,
+         "cannot assign: resource lifecycle state is #{inspect(state)}, must be one of #{inspect(@assignable_resource_states)}"}
+
+  def assignable_state?(%{type: :service, service_state: state})
+      when state not in @assignable_service_states,
+      do:
+        {:error,
+         "cannot assign: service state is #{inspect(state)}, must be one of #{inspect(@assignable_service_states)}"}
+
+  def assignable_state?(_), do: :ok
 
   defp create_assignment(result, pool, thing, value, assignee_id, alias_name)
        when is_struct(result) and is_atom(pool) and is_atom(thing) and is_integer(value) and
diff --git a/test/provider/extension/assigner_test.exs b/test/provider/extension/assigner_test.exs
index a0b2f0f..5e662a2 100644
--- a/test/provider/extension/assigner_test.exs
+++ b/test/provider/extension/assigner_test.exs
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ defmodule Diffo.Provider.Extension.AssignerTest do
   @moduledoc false
   use ExUnit.Case, async: true
   @moduletag :domain_extended
+  alias Diffo.Provider.Assigner
   alias Diffo.Provider.Specification
   alias Diffo.Provider.Characteristic
   alias Diffo.Provider.Assignment
@@ -19,6 +20,52 @@ defmodule Diffo.Provider.Extension.AssignerTest do
     on_exit(&AshNeo4j.Sandbox.rollback/0)
   end
 
+  # Issue #168 — broadened lifecycle policy. Service-side now covers the full
+  # committed lifecycle (excludes :initial, :cancelled, :terminated); resource
+  # side now allows :installing in addition to :operating.
+  describe "assignable_state?/1 (#168)" do
+    test "resource: :operating is permitted" do
+      assert :ok = Assigner.assignable_state?(%{type: :resource, resource_state: :operating})
+    end
+
+    test "resource: :installing is permitted" do
+      assert :ok = Assigner.assignable_state?(%{type: :resource, resource_state: :installing})
+    end
+
+    test "resource: :planning is rejected" do
+      assert {:error, msg} =
+               Assigner.assignable_state?(%{type: :resource, resource_state: :planning})
+
+      assert msg =~ ":planning"
+    end
+
+    test "resource: :retiring is rejected" do
+      assert {:error, _} =
+               Assigner.assignable_state?(%{type: :resource, resource_state: :retiring})
+    end
+
+    test "service: committed lifecycle states are permitted" do
+      for state <- [:feasibilityChecked, :reserved, :inactive, :active, :suspended] do
+        assert :ok = Assigner.assignable_state?(%{type: :service, service_state: state}),
+               "expected service_state #{inspect(state)} to be assignable"
+      end
+    end
+
+    test "service: :initial is rejected" do
+      assert {:error, msg} =
+               Assigner.assignable_state?(%{type: :service, service_state: :initial})
+
+      assert msg =~ ":initial"
+    end
+
+    test "service: terminal states are rejected" do
+      for state <- [:cancelled, :terminated] do
+        assert {:error, _} = Assigner.assignable_state?(%{type: :service, service_state: state}),
+               "expected service_state #{inspect(state)} to be rejected"
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
   describe "build card" do
     @tag :card
     test "create a card" do
@@ -213,5 +260,45 @@ defmodule Diffo.Provider.Extension.AssignerTest do
       assert encoding ==
                ~s({\"id\":\"#{card.id}",\"href\":\"resourceInventoryManagement/v4/resource/#{card.id}",\"category\":\"Network Resource\",\"description\":\"A Card Resource Instance\",\"resourceSpecification\":{\"id\":\"cd29956f-6c68-44cc-bf54-705eb8d2f754\",\"href\":\"resourceCatalogManagement/v4/resourceSpecification/cd29956f-6c68-44cc-bf54-705eb8d2f754\",\"name\":\"card\",\"version\":\"v1.0.0\"},\"lifecycleState\":\"operating\"})
     end
+
+    test "auto assign port to resource in :installing state (#168)" do
+      {:ok, assignee} = Parties.build_shelf_with_installer()
+
+      {:ok, card} = Servo.build_card(%{})
+
+      updates = [
+        card: [family: :ISAM, model: "EBLT48", technology: :adsl2Plus],
+        ports: [first: 1, last: 48, assignable_type: "ADSL2+"]
+      ]
+
+      {:ok, card} = Servo.define_card(card, %{characteristic_value_updates: updates})
+      {:ok, card} = Servo.lifecycle_card(card, %{resource_state: :installing})
+
+      {:ok, card} =
+        Servo.assign_port(card, %{
+          assignment: %Assignment{assignee_id: assignee.id, operation: :auto_assign}
+        })
+
+      assert length(card.assignments) == 1
+    end
+
+    test "assign rejected while resource is in :planning state (#168)" do
+      {:ok, assignee} = Parties.build_shelf_with_installer()
+
+      {:ok, card} = Servo.build_card(%{})
+
+      updates = [
+        card: [family: :ISAM, model: "EBLT48", technology: :adsl2Plus],
+        ports: [first: 1, last: 48, assignable_type: "ADSL2+"]
+      ]
+
+      {:ok, card} = Servo.define_card(card, %{characteristic_value_updates: updates})
+      {:ok, card} = Servo.lifecycle_card(card, %{resource_state: :planning})
+
+      assert {:error, _} =
+               Servo.assign_port(card, %{
+                 assignment: %Assignment{assignee_id: assignee.id, operation: :auto_assign}
+               })
+    end
   end
 end