[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: We have discussed this topic in recent
issues of the Digest, so this FCC factsheet will be placed permanently
in our archives, in the 'Reports' section. PAT]
Wireless Local Number Portability (Wireless LNP)
Frequently Asked Questions:
1) What is wireless local number portability (LNP)?
2) Who should consumers contact if they want to port their number to a new
carrier?
3) Are carriers allowed to charge for number porting, and, if so, how much
can the charges be?
4) Can different carriers charge different amounts?
5) If a consumer has a long-term contract with a carrier, is that consumer
still obligated to pay an early termination fee even if he/she ports the
phone number to a new carrier?
6) Can consumers port a wireline number to a wireless phone?
7) How long will the porting process take?
8) If consumers port a number to a new wireless carrier, can they still use
their current phone?
9) Will porting my number cause any problems with E911?
10) Do the porting requirements apply to paging carriers?
11) I've heard that some consumers experienced difficulties while attempting
to port their numbers during the initial rollout of wireless LNP. What
should I expect if I try to port my number now?
12) How do I file a complaint?
--------- answers by number given below -------
1-Q: What is wireless local number portability (LNP)?
A: Wireless LNP is a wireless consumer's ability to change service
providers within the same local area and still keep the same phone number.
Wireless LNP allows consumers to switch from one wireless carrier to
another within the same general metropolitan area. It _does not_ allow
consumers to keep the same phone number when moving to a new town or city.
Wireless LNP also allows consumers to move a phone number from a
wireline phone to a wireless phone in some cases.
2-Q: Who should consumers contact if they want to port their number to a new
carrier?
A: Consumers should contact their prospective new carrier, who will start
the porting process. The new carrier will first confirm the consumer's
identity and then make a porting request of the old carrier. When
consumers go to their new carrier to port a number, they should bring
along a recent bill, which will have their correct name and address as
it appears in the carrier's database. This should aid in making the
porting process go smoothly. Once a valid porting request has been made,
the old carrier cannot refuse to port a number.
3-Q: Are carriers allowed to charge for number porting, and, if so, how much
can the charges be?
A: Carriers are allowed to recover their costs of implementing wireless LNP
by charging fees to customers. They have been allowed to do this in
advance of the LNP deadline because they have been incurring costs for
LNP upgrades in preparation for the deadline.
Carriers may recover their costs either by including line-item fees for
LNP on their customers' monthly bills or by raising the monthly rate.
Carriers that have been adding line items to consumer bills to recover
LNP costs have typically been charging from a few cents to a little over
a dollar.
Carriers are also allowed to charge a fee to customers at the time their
number is ported. However, there are no rules preventing a new carrier
from paying an old carrier's porting costs for the benefit of the new
customer. You should ask the new carrier whether it has a policy of
paying or reimbursing such charges.
4-Q: Can different carriers charge different amounts?
A: Yes, because different carriers have varying costs of operating due to
numerous economic factors. Although the FCC does not regulate the amount
of such charges, all such charges must be just and reasonable.
5-Q: If a consumer has a long-term contract with a carrier, is that consumer
still obligated to pay an early termination fee even if he/she ports the
phone number to a new carrier?
A: Yes. While consumers who wish to switch carriers may request service
from and port numbers to a new carrier at any time, they are still
obligated to pay any early termination fees they may have under an
existing contract, and they are obligated to pay any outstanding balance
owed to the old carrier.
Consumers interested in switching providers should review their existing
contract to determine what fees or charges would apply. Some contracts
may state that the customer's phone number may be the property of the
existing carrier. This may or may not be true and enforceable under
the law. Contact the FCC for more information on this as needed.
Generally however, once a consumer has requested service from a new
carrier, the old carrier _may not delay or refuse to port a number
even if that individual owes money for an outstanding balance or
termination fee._ If the old carrier does in fact 'own' the number,
that carrier may agree to release or waive its 'ownership rights'
after the outstanding balance has been paid. Contact the FCC for more
information on this as needed.
6-Q: Can consumers port a wireline number to a wireless phone?
A: Wireline-to-wireless porting is possible in some cases. Consumers
interested in porting a number from a wireline to a wireless phone
should check with the prospective new wireless carrier to see if
wireline to wireless porting is an option for them.
If you port a number from a wireline phone to a wireless phone, your
wireline long distance carrier will not move with you. Your long
distance service will generally be provided by your new wireless carrier.
Pursuant to a court-ordered stay, most small wireline carriers currently
are not required to port numbers to wireless carriers until the FCC
completes and publishes a study about the effect of the porting rules on
small carriers. (TELECOM Editor's Note: This was the rule in summer, 2005.
Check for any more recent changes. PAT)
After the FCC completes and publishes its study about the effect of the
porting rules on small wireline carriers, these carriers may still have
an exemption from the porting requirements if they have received a state
waiver. The law permits state public utility commissions to grant
certain small wireline carriers waivers from the number portability
requirements. Customers who want to port a wireline number to a wireless
phone and are told that they cannot should contact their state public
utility commission to find out whether their wireline carrier has been
granted a waiver. Check with your state commission for updates on this.
7-Q: How long will the porting process take?
A: For a wireless-to-wireless transfer, the porting process should take
approximately two and a half hours from the time the porting request is
made of the old carrier. The FCC has not mandated a specific time frame
for the wireless-to-wireless porting process. Two and a half hours is
the time frame agreed upon by the wireless industry, and the FCC
encourages carriers to use that time frame.
A wireline-to-wireless port will probably take longer to complete, and
could take several days. Before porting between wireline and wireless
phones, consumers should ask their new service provider how long the
process will take.
8-Q: If consumers port a number to a new wireless carrier, can they still use
their current phone?
A: For various reasons, wireless handsets are often incompatible among
different wireless service providers. Consumers will likely need to
purchase a new phone, even when they retain the same phone number. Even
when a phone can be reprogrammed to work on a new network, most carriers
may have policies against doing so.
9-Q: Will porting my number cause any problems with E911?
A: During the time the number is being ported from the old carrier to the
new carrier, there may be a period of "mixed service" when E911 service
is affected. If customers call 911 during this period, the call should
go through. However, the 911 operator may not be able to call consumers
back if the call gets disconnected.
Before porting either a wireless or a wireline number, consumers should
ask their new service provider how long the porting process will take
and how the porting process will affect emergency services.
10-Q: Do the porting requirements apply to paging carriers?
A: No, the porting requirements do not apply to paging carriers. These
carriers claim to 'own' the number used for paging. See question 5
above for some discussion on this. Generally, paging carriers do _not_
have to release their numbers.
11-Q: I've heard that some consumers experienced difficulties while
attempting to port their numbers during the initial rollout of
wireless LNP. What should I expect if I try to port my number now?
A: Since the rollout of wireless LNP began, in 2005, the FCC has been
monitoring wireless and wireline carriers' progress in implementing
number portability. While there were a few technical bumps in the road
during the initial stages of the rollout, carriers have resolved most
of these issues and we expect the remainder of the implementation
process to go smoothly, in most instances.
12-Q: How may I complain about problems I've had with this process?
A: First, try to clarify things with your wireless company. If that
fails, direct your inquiry to your state commission or the FCC.
Federal Communications Commission (fcc@fcc.gov)