WASHINGTON-The association representing wireless resellers last week submitted a detailed report to the Federal Communications Commission to support their claims wireless carriers can implement wireless number portability by the current deadline of March 31, 2000.
This is significant because the FCC is slated to decide on a forbearance petition by the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association by Dec. 16.
Portability refers to a customer’s ability to change carriers without having to change telephone numbers. The FCC believes number portability is necessary for competition to develop.
CTIA and the rest of the wireless industry argue wireless number portability is not necessary because the wireless industry already is competitive. Indeed, CTIA’s petition asks the FCC not to enforce for five years wireless number portability rules when they become effective on March 31, 2000. After the five years, the FCC should use the amount of competition in the wireless industry as the determining factor as to the need for wireless number portability.
Wireline number portability is being phased in throughout the 100 largest metropolitan areas using a technology known as location routing number or LRN.
The proposal from the Telecommunications Resellers Association urges the use of LRN for wireless telephony in addition to wireline service. Using LRN will bring wireless number portability to customers faster than the approach advocated by CTIA because it can be phased in rather than a flash cut.
TRA’s support of LRN is not new, said TRA Vice President David Gusky. Indeed, the report was provided at the request of FCC staffers who wanted details and cost information, Gusky said.
CTIA and the rest of the wireless industry are working toward a wireless number portability plan that would separate the mobile identification number and mobile directory number. Today these numbers are based on the telephone number assigned to a specific customer and signify to carriers-when users are roaming-not only the customer but the carrier to which the customer subscribes. After separation, these identifiers will still be available for roaming but the MIN will not be based on the telephone number.
