STATEMENT OF COMMISSIONER ROBERT M. McDOWELL Re: Local Number Portability Porting Interval and Validation Requirements, WC Docket No. 07-244; Telephone Number Portability, CC Docket No. 95-116 A year ago - almost to the day (May 13, 2009) - the Commission approved an order that reduced the porting interval for simple wireline ports and simple intermodal ports from four days to one day. I wholeheartedly supported that decision because it empowered consumers to enjoy the benefits of marketplace choice almost as quickly as technology allows. At that time, the Commission provided a generous and sensible glide path for implementing the change which first called for recommendations from the North American Numbering Council (NANC). In response to last year’s order, NANC submitted its recommendations, additional comments were filed, and we are now ready to move forward. Accordingly, I am pleased to join my colleagues in establishing the implementation deadlines of August 2, 2010 for the large carriers and February 2, 2011 for the small carriers. This order finalizes some key outstanding issues such as clarifying, in great detail, what the Commission means when it says a port must be completed in “one day.” For example, the order explains that business days are Monday through Friday (excluding holidays) from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 pm. Additionally, we set forth that if a complete and accurate request for a port - Local Service Request (LSR) - is received before 1:00 p.m., the number must be ready to port at midnight. However, any LSR received after 1:00 p.m. triggers a requirement that the port be ready to port the next day at midnight. Such information may seem basic but it is critical to ensure that all stakeholders are operating under the same assumptions to avoid confusion and delays. I commend representatives from consumer groups and those in industry who participated in the NANC working group. The policy of one-day porting is a simple one but involves complex, technical planning behind the scenes to ensure that consumers experience a seamless process. As such, the advice and comments from experts were critical to this process. Second, I would like to recognize Commissioner Copps for his leadership on this issue because he pushed through the resolution for a one-day porting requirement while he was Acting Chairman. Finally, I applaud Chairman Genachowski and his staff for following through with the final necessary implementation requirements. This is a positive development for competition and, ultimately, for America’s consumers who benefit from it.