WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission has taken several actions dealing with telephone numbers and special temporary authority for spectrum licenses during the past week to assist in the recovery efforts following Hurricane Katrina.
Most recently, the FCC Sunday said that carriers could keep residential phone numbers for customers who disconnect their service because they are relocated from the impacted areas for longer than the usual 90 days. The waiver of the FCC rules is in place until June, but carriers can request extensions if necessary.
“We recognize that customers that have been displaced by the hurricane may desire to discontinue their service temporarily and to reinstate it at a later time. Due to the catastrophic nature of the damage to telecommunications systems, we expect that in many cases these customers may seek to reinstate their service after the 90-day period had lapsed,” said the FCC.
This is in addition to a waiver issued Sept. 1 allowing carriers to port telephone numbers outside of the impacted areas. This allows customers who may want to keep their phone numbers but are no longer in the proper areas for the phone numbers to do so.
The FCC also released several orders regarding special temporary authority dealing with spectrum licenses.
“The commission has been in continual contact with the industry and has taken prompt action, where necessary, to provide regulatory relief to facilitate restoration efforts. For example, the commission has created opportunities for providers to deploy alternative means of communication in the affected region. We have also assisted in performing coordination activities between the industry and federal emergency authorities as appropriate. We will continue doing everything within our power to ensure the vitality of the nation’s communications network. We are confident that all service providers will do the same,” said the FCC in a statement released Tuesday morning.
