Neustar, Telcordia battle over FCC contract to play traffic cop for phone calls, texts

Influential lawmakers are urging the Federal Communications Commission not to ignore national security as it prepares to choose a company to play the critical role of traffic cop for virtually every phone call and text message in North America. At issue is the security of the most significant cog in the telecommunications network that most Americans have never heard of.

The Number Portability Administration Center, or NPAC, handles the routing of all calls and texts for more than 650 million US and Canadian phone numbers for more than 2,000 carriers. If numbers are scrambled or erased, havoc could ensue.

In a letter sent to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, Rep Mike Rogers (R-MI) and Rep CA Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD), Chairman and ranking Democrat of the House Intelligence Committee, urged the FCC to consult the FBI and other security agencies before picking a firm.