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 NEWS  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).  News  Media  Information  202  /  418-  0500  Internet:  http://  www.  fcc.  gov  TTY:  1-  888-  835-  5322 
 For  Immediate  Release:  November  24,  2004 
 FCC  CHAIRMAN  POWELL  STATEMENT  ON  FIRST  ANNIVERSARY  OF  WIRELESS  LOCAL  NUMBER  PORTABILITY 


 November  24,  2004,  marks  one  year  of  wireless  local  number  portability.  More  than  8.5  million  consumers  have  taken  advantage  of  the  opportunity  to  change  their  wireless  carrier  and 
 keep  their  phone  number  or  move  a  landline  number  to  a  wireless  phone.  One  of  the  primary  reasons  for  the  great  success  of  the  mobile  telephone  industry  has  been  competition,  and  wireless 
 LNP  has  stimulated  competition  on  wireless  carriers  providing  quality  service  and  greater  consumer  choice.  Wireless  LNP  allows  consumers  to  choose  their  carrier  based  on  the  best  rates 
 and  plans  for  their  needs,  rather  than  remaining  captive  with  a  carrier  they  no  longer  want  in  order  not  to  undergo  a  change  of  phone  number. 


 I  commend  the  wireless  industry  for  overcoming  some  initial  glitches,  inherent  in  any  new  system,  and  making  the  porting  process  go  smoothly  and  efficiently  for  consumers.  I  am 
 also  pleased  to  note  that  some  wireless  providers  have  recently  announced  they  have  reduced  the  line  item  charges  that  had  been  imposed  to  fund  LNP,  another  consumer  win. 


 -  FCC  - 
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