WASHINGTON-The Telecommunications Resellers Association last week told the Federal Communications Commission it should not delay the rollout of wireless number portability despite the industry’s claims it isn’t technically possible to implement number portability prior to June.
“Achieving wireless number portability using the method proposed by many of the leading wireless carriers amounts to technological overkill,” said TRA Vice President David Gusky.
Portability refers to telephone subscribers keeping their telephone number when switching service providers. The FCC has said number portability is essential to further competition.
The North American Numbering Council (NANC) in May released a report repeating the wireless industry party line that technical hurdles standing in the way of implementing wireless number portability cannot be resolved by next summer’s deadline.
The wireless industry consistently has claimed every cell site in the United States must be modified for wireless number portability to be successful.
TRA disputed the industry’s argument, suggesting wireless carriers use the same system of phased-in implementation used by the wireline world. “We’re suggesting that wireless carriers can and should utilize the same technology that landline carriers are already using to bring number portability to landline networks. The bottom line is this approach would allow wireless number portability to reach the marketplace and start producing benefits for consumers sooner rather than later,” Gusky said. TRA made the suggestion as part of comments on the NANC report filed at the FCC.
In comments filed in the same proceeding, the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association said the NANC report confirms its belief that portability implementation must be delayed. “CTIA supports the recommendation from the Wireless/Wireline Integration Report to `defer the introduction of portability between wireline and wireless service providers until a clear and real competitive need exists.’ “
Additionally, United States Cellular Corp. said wireline carriers will have an advantage over wireless carriers because it is estimated it will take four days for a wireline carrier to port a number from its network to a wireless network while wireless carriers can port in less than three hours. “A four-day delay in this process might well prompt cancellations of proposed number ports,” USCC said.
