FCC Increases Consumer Choice By Speeding Number Portability

The Federal Communications Commission adopted rules aimed at making it easier for consumers to switch voice service providers by requiring wireline, wireless and certain Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) providers to transfer a customer's existing telephone number to a new provider within one business day, rather than the current four-day requirement. Delays in number porting cost consumers money and impede their ability to choose providers based solely on price, quality and service. With the exception of small carriers, all providers must implement the new number porting interval within nine months from the time the Commission receives key input from the North American Numbering Council (NANC), which is due 90 days after the effective date of the order. Small carriers have 15 months after the NANC recommendation to implement the new interval. The NANC is a federal advisory committee charged with advising the Commission on numbering matters.