STATEMENT OF
COMMISSIONER MICHAEL O’RIELLY
Re:	Nationwide Number Portability, WC Docket No. 17-244; Numbering Policies for Modern Communications, WC Docket No. 13-97.
The goal of full nationwide number portability is a laudable one and could be beneficial – at least in the short term – for those individuals who have some affinity to their local telephone number.  In the grand scheme, however, consumer reliance on telephone numbers will likely continue to dwindle as modern technology eliminates the need.  Society is moving away from telephone numbers just like it moved away from fax machines and is moving away from wireline dial tone phones.  Maybe that is progress or maybe not, but it is reality.
Of note, this item only moves us along a path towards nationwide number portability.  Appropriately, the item acknowledges that more complex and difficult leaps will be needed to reach fully operational portability.  But, today’s steps, however minor, should be of help.  In particular, eliminating dialing parity requirements for new entrants is appropriate, especially since the Commission already struck them for incumbent providers who were the original problematic target of the rules in the first place.  Similarly, providing flexibility on when the local numbering portability database is queried will prevent carriers from duplication.  For these reason, I approve.