*Pages 1--2 from Microsoft Word - 38304* NEWS News media Information 202 / 418- 0500 TTY 202 / 418- 2555 Fax- On- Demand 202 / 418- 2830 Internet: http:// www. fcc. gov ftp. fcc. gov Federal Communications Commission 445 12 th Street, S. W. Washington, D. C. 20554 This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D. C. Circ 1974). FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NEWS MEDIA CONTACTS: May 13, 2004 Lauren Patrich at (202) 418- 7944 Email: lauren. patrich@ fcc. gov Michael Balmoris at (202) 418- 0253 Email: michael. balmoris@ fcc. gov Rosemary Kimball at (202) 418- 0511 Email: rosemary. kimball@ fcc. gov FCC REPORTS ON STATUS OF LOCAL NUMBER PORTABILITY Process for Ports Has Improved; Pace of Complaints Has Slowed Nationwide Number Portability Begins on May 24 Washington, D. C. – Today, three Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Bureaus involved in the implementation of local number portability reported to the Commissioners on the status of local number portability. Local number portability (LNP) provides consumers the freedom to keep their phone numbers when switching among service providers. The 1996 Telecommunications Act requires all wireline local exchange carriers to provide LNP, and the Commission has mandated that wireless carriers provide LNP as well. Porting among wireline carriers has been occurring since 1998. Last November 24, 2003, wireless carriers began porting in the top 100 markets, and porting also began in those markets between wireline and wireless carriers. On May 24, 2004, wireless local number portability will become available in the rest of the country outside the top 100 markets. John B. Muleta, Chief of the FCC’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, reported that, since the introduction of wireless number porting on November 24, 2003, there have been over 2 million ports involving wireless carriers. Most of these have involved wireless customers switching from one wireless carrier to another, although some have involved wireline customers taking their wireline number to a wireless carrier. Mr. Muleta stated that the introduction of wireless LNP has stimulated competition and increased competitive pressure on wireless carriers to provide quality service to their customers. He pointed out that a number of wireless carriers have emphasized number portability in their advertising as an incentive to attract customers from competing carriers. Mr. Muleta also stated that the Wireless Bureau is focused on making sure that carriers outside the top 100 markets understand and meet their wireless porting obligations that will take effect on May 24. William Maher, Chief of the FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau, reported that, in April alone, there were approximately 1.38 million ports across all platforms (wireless and wireline), and that most of this activity was roughly evenly split between wireline- to- wireline porting and 1 2 wireless- to- wireless porting. According to Mr. Maher, the Commission will soon be requesting comment on proposals by the North America Numbering Council (NANC) regarding the intermodal porting interval. K. Dane Snowden, Chief of the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau, reported that, to address the communication problems, carriers have established dedicated points of contact and conflict escalation teams to resolve porting issues once they are identified. Mr. Snowden added that the Commission will continue its outreach activities, as well as working with industry, state regulators, and consumer groups to ensure that consumers have the tools they need to make informed choices in a competitive marketplace. The Wireless Telecommunications Bureau also released a Public Notice today to remind carriers of the local number portability obligations that will become effective on May 24, 2004, and to answer some common questions. -FCC- News about the Federal Communications Commission can also be found on the Commission’s web site www. fcc. gov. 2