FCC Adopts New Phone Number Portability Rules

The Federal Communications Commission adopted new rules that will allow consumers to transfer their phone numbers to new providers much more quickly.

The action makes markets more competitive since delay in "porting" a phone number -- moving it from one provider to another -- can inconvenience consumers and cause them to abandon efforts to switch providers. Last May, the Commission adopted an Order that reduces the time allowed for transferring a number from four business days to one. The change affects most transfers of a phone number from one wireline provider to another, or between a wireline and a wireless provider, or between a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) provider and another provider. Completing the task begun last May, today's Order streamlines the number porting process by standardizing the information that providers must exchange, based upon recommendations from participants in the proceeding.

The deadline for compliance is August 2 for all but small providers, which must comply by February 2, 2011.