Status Update: Local Number Portability Administrator Contract

The Federal Communications Commission’s Wireline Competition Bureau is circulating a draft order to the full FCC, which, if adopted, would initiate contract negotiations with Telcordia (d/b/a iconectiv) to serve as the next Local Number Portability Administrator (LNPA).

The LNPA develops, maintains and operates the processes and database used to “port” or transfer numbers. The LNPA also provides services to law enforcement and public safety organizations. Telcordia has extensive experience in numbering administration in the US and abroad. The North American Numbering Council (NANC) -- a Federal Advisory Committee created to advise the FCC on numbering issues -- and the FCC staff evaluated the bids for technical and managerial competence, security considerations, and cost-effectiveness. The draft includes provisions to ensure a smooth transition and to protect the integrity and availability of the system during and after the transition. The current LNPA’s contract automatically renews for one-year terms and the next available termination date is June 30, 2015. The FCC is overseeing the process to select the next LNPA. Maintaining the integrity and availability of the porting system is paramount.