ENERGY AND COMM€RCE COMMIÏTEE
HEALTH SuacoMMtrrEE
RANKING MEMAEß
ENVTRoNMENT AND THE EcoNoMY
SuBcoMMtñEE
coMMUNrc^TroNs aND TEcHNoLoGYI sru.o"",rreu
I
NATURAT RESOURCES COMMITTEE:
FrsHERrEs, WTLDLTFÉ, OcEANS AND
lNsuLAR AÉFArRs SuacoMMrneË
DEMOCRATIC POLICY COMMITTEE:
Couvuru¡cnltorus Cnarn
http://www.house.gov/pallone
RËPLY To:
WASHTNGToN OFFrc€:
I I 237 CaNNoN HousE OFFTCE EurLDtNG
WAsHrNGroN, DC 205'l 5-3006
TETEPHONE; 12021 225-467 1
D¡srRrcr Orrrces:
Tor.L-FREE NUMaÉR:
(888) 423-1 l40
D 504 BRoaDw Y
LoNG BRANcH, NJ 07740
(7321 571-1140
tr 67/69 cBUßcH SrnEÊr
KILMER SOUARE
NEw ERUNswrcK, NJ 0890'l
11321 249-8892
(ffitsbíngton, Ð@ 2 o 5 I 5-3 006
December 18,2014
The Honorable Tom Wheeler
Chairman
Federal Communications Commission
445 lzth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20554
Dear Chairman Wheeler:
I am writing in reference to the pending decision to select a Local Number Portability
Administrator (LNPA) to begin service on July I,2015. I urge you to take all appropriate
measures to bring a fair and thorough selection process to a close.
One of the main stated purposes of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 is to "promote
competition and reduce regulation in order to secure lower prices...." For more than a decade,
the LNPA had not been subject to an open, competitive bidding process. Recently, the Federal
Communications Commission's (FCC) decided to issue a new Request for Proposal (RFP) to
enable multiple vendors to bid in accordance with the 1996 Act.
My office has been informed that the result of the competitive process the FCC's numbering
advisory committee, the North American Numbering Council (NANC), was a recommendation
that Telcordia (dba iConectiv) be designated as the next LNPA by a unanimous vote. As stated
on the FCC's website "the NANC advises the Commission and makes recommendations,
reached through consensus, that foster efficient and impartial number administration. The
NANC is composed of representatives of telecommunications carriers, regulators, cable
providers, VoIP providers, industry associations, vendors and consumer advocates."
Furthermore, the FCC has moved forward by soliciting and receiving comments on NANC's
recommendation. I am aware that those comments include support for NANC's
recommendation from the North American Portability Management, LLC (NAPM). As you
know, NAPM was created at FCC's direction "to negotiate and manage the contracts for LNP
administration," including "immediate oversight and management" of the LNP administrator(s)
in accordance with orders and directions from the FCC."
Finally, it is my understanding that for each day a transition is delayed beyond July I ,2015 it
would cost consumers and industry an additional $l million. If accurate, this estimate adds to
the compelling case for a timely decision with regard to this matter.
FRANK PALLONE, JN.
6TH DISTRICT, NEW JERS€Y
[,ongrøø of tISe Mniteù Stateø
Tbouse of ßepredentgtibtø
PRINTEO ON RECYCTED PAPÊN
1308
Thank you in advance for your serious consideration of my views. I understand that there are
numerous, important considerations that you must weigh in determining which entity to
designate as the number portability adminisfator, including cos! reliability, security,
competition and the impact on consumers. I look forward to hearing from you on this matter and
hope for swift resolution that will benefit oonsumers.
Sincerely, fi I
1"J?"ll*l
FRANKPALLONE, JR. I
Member of Congress I