*Pages 1--2 from Microsoft Word - 10722.doc* PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th St., S. W. Washington, D. C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418- 0500 Fax- On- Demand 202 / 418- 2830 TTY 202 / 418- 2555 Internet: http:// www. fcc. gov ftp. fcc. gov DA 01- 1872 Released: August 7, 2001 WTB SEEKS COMMENT ON WIRELESS LNP FORBEARANCE PETITION FILED BY VERIZON WIRELESS WT DOCKET NO. 01- 184 Comments Due: September 21, 2001 Reply Comments Due: October 22, 2001 The Federal Communications Commission's (Commission's) rules require commercial mobile radio service (CMRS) providers to support service provider local number portability (LNP) in the top 100 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) by November 24, 2002. 1 Service provider LNP is a service that provides residential and business telephone customers with the ability to retain, at the same location, their existing telephone numbers when switching from one local telephone service provider to another. On July 26, 2001, Verizon Wireless (Verizon) submitted a petition for forbearance from the LNP requirements. 2 Verizon states that its petition pertains only to the LNP obligations on CMRS carriers and that it does not request forbearance from the separate requirement that CMRS carriers participate in thousands- block number pooling by Novermber 24, 2002. 3 Pooling and LNP are linked because they involve substantially similar technical modifications. Verizon states that granting its petition would mean that carriers would still be required to upgrade their networks to be able to participate in number pooling, but would be relieved of the additional requirement of implementing number portability. 4 According to Verizon, forbearance is appropriate because the CMRS LNP requirements will impose complex technical burdens and expenses that are not justified by tangible economic benefits. 5 We seek comment on Verizon’s petition. Parties interested in filing comments may do so on or before September 21, 2001 and reply comments on or before October 22, 2001. 1 47 C. F. R. § 52. 31. 2 Verizon Wireless Petition Pursuant to 47 U. S. C. § 160 for Partial Forbearance from the Commercial Mobile Radio Services Number Portability Obligation, WT Docket 01- 184 (filed July 26, 2001) (Verizon Petition). 3 47 C. F. R. § 52. 20. 4 Verizon Petition at 1. 5 Id. at 2. 1 This is a "permit but disclose" proceeding pursuant to § 1. 1206 of the Commission's Rules. 6 Presentations to or from Commission decision- making personnel are permissible provided that ex parte presentations are disclosed pursuant to 47 C. F. R. § 1.1206( b). Comments may be filed using the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) or by filing paper copies. Comments filed through the ECFS can be sent as an electronic file via the Internet to http:// www. fcc. gov/ e-file/ ecfs. html. In completing the transmittal screen, commenters should include their full name, Postal Service mailing address, and the docket number of this proceeding. Parties that choose to file by paper must file an original and four copies of each filing with the Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12 th Street, S. W., Washington, D. C. 20554, and a diskette copy with the Commission’s copy contractor International Transcription Service, Inc. (ITS), Room CY- B400, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12 th Street, S. W., Washington, D. C. 20554. The filing should include the docket number of this proceeding: WT Docket No. 01- 184. Filings and comments are also available for inspection and copying during regular business hours in the Reference Information Center, Federal Communications Commission, Court Yard Level, Room CY- A257, 445 12 th Street, S. W., Washington, D. C. or may be purchased from ITS. For further information concerning this proceeding, contact Jennifer Salhus, Policy Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, at (202) 418- 1310. -FCC- 6 47 C. F. R. § 1. 1206. 2