Communications and Technology Subcommittee Members Ask FCC to Allow Americans To Keep Their Phone Numbers

Every member of the House Communications Subcommittee wrote to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler regarding the ability for consumers to take their phone number with them if they choose to switch carriers. A recent white paper by the North American Numbering Council explained that consumers may have some difficulty keeping their number as they switch from a nationwide carrier to a non-nationwide carrier. The members asked the FCC to “act expeditiously to resolve this customer confusion and support nationwide wireless number portability for all providers."

The letter reads, "For over a decade, the Federal Communications Commission has required wireless carriers to implement local number portability, allowing consumers to switch among service providers while keeping their phone number. Consumers overwhelmingly prefer to keep their numbers when they switch carriers. However, those hoping to switch to non-nationwide wireless carriers may be unable to port-in their existing numbers under today’s rules. This distinction within the number portability rules places non-nationwide providers at a competitive disadvantage, and as a recent white paper on this issue from the North American Numbering Council noted, this could result in consumer confusion when attempting to switch providers. We urge you to act expeditiously to resolve this customer confusion and support nationwide wireless number portability for all providers."