Number Portability for Consumers: Taking Your Wireless Number with You

Number Portability for ConsumersAct was meant to promote competition and reduce regulation in all telecommunications markets.' 4 Prior to the 1996 Telecom Act, Congress recognized the inability of customers to switch from one cellular telephone company to another while retaining the same telephone number as a major barrier to telecommunications competition.15 Therefore, pursuant to the 1996 Telecom Act, Congress imposed the duty to offer telephone number portability on all telecommunications carriers.'6 The FCC, charged with leading the effort, decided soon after that wireless carriers would be required to offer telephone number portability to consumers in the 100 largest United States cities by June 1999.1The FCC did not specifically outline the process for implementing number portability; rather, it simply set a minimum standard to which carriers must adhere.' 8 Subsequent litigation and roadblocks forced the FCC to extend that deadline three times with the installation of telephone number portability finally occurring on November 24, 2003, in the 100 largest cities in the United States.13 Telecommunications Act of 1996, Pub.L. No. 104-104, 110 Stat.56 (1996).14 The purpose of the 1996 Telecom Act is "to promote competition and reduce regulation in order to secure lower prices and higher quality services for American telecommunications consumers and encourage the rapid deployment of new telecommunications technologies."Id. (preamble).See also Federal Communications Commission, Keeping Your Phone Number When You Change Your Service