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 Federal  Communications  Commission  FCC  03-  284 
 SEPARATE  STATEMENT  OF  COMMISSIONER  KATHLEEN  Q.  ABERNATHY 


 Re:  Telephone  Number  Portability  –  CTIA  Petitions  for  Declaratory  Ruling  on  Wireline-  Wireless  Porting  Issues,  CC  Docket  No.  95-  116 
 This  Order  removes  the  final  roadblocks  to  implementing  wireline-  to-  wireless  number  portability,  which  is  an  important  step  in  facilitating  intermodal  competition.  The  Commission  mandated  local 
 number  portability  (LNP)  within  and  across  the  wireline  and  wireless  platforms,  where  technically  feasible,  with  the  goal  of  maximizing  consumer  choice.  As  of  November  24,  2003,  this  goal  will  become 
 a  reality:  Most  consumers  who  seek  to  switch  wireless  providers  or  to  move  from  a  local  exchange  carrier  to  a  wireless  carrier  will  be  able  to  retain  their  existing  telephone  numbers.  While  I  expressed 
 sympathy  in  the  past  to  arguments  that  the  November  24  deadline  was  premature,  our  present  focus  must  be  on  implementation,  and  the  foregoing  Order  provides  much-  needed  clarity  regarding  the  parties’ 
 obligations. 
 I  recognize  that  wireline  network  architecture  and  state  rating  requirements  will  prevent  many  (if  not  most)  consumers  from  porting  wireless  numbers  to  wireline  carriers.  Although,  in  the  short  term, 
 wireline  carriers  will  have  more  limited  opportunities  to  benefit  from  intermodal  LNP  than  wireless  carriers  will,  I  was  simply  not  willing  to  block  consumers  from  taking  advantage  of  the  porting 
 opportunities  that  are  technologically  feasible  today.  I  am  hopeful  that  existing  obstacles  to  wireless-  to-wireline  porting  will  be  addressed  as  expeditiously  as  possible  through  technological  upgrades  and,  where 
 necessary,  state  regulatory  changes. 
 Finally,  I  am  pleased  that  the  Commission  is  stepping  up  its  consumer  outreach  efforts  on  the  issues  of  wireless  and  intermodal  LNP.  To  this  end,  I  commend  the  recent  proactive  efforts  of  the 
 Wireless  Telecommunications  Bureau  and  the  Consumer  and  Government  Bureau  to  educate  the  public  about  our  LNP  rules.  I  am  also  pleased  with  the  recent  efforts  of  industry  to  reach  out  to  consumers  so 
 that  they  understand  what  number-  porting  opportunities  are  available  to  them.  For  consumers  to  benefit  from  our  expanded  LNP  regime,  it  is  imperative  for  them  to  have  sufficient  information  to  make  the  most 
 appropriate  choices  for  themselves. 
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