WASHINGTON, D.C.-A committee under the Industry Carriers Compatibility Forum submitted to federal authorities a plan for providing personal communications services users with number portability.
The Industry Numbering Committee’s proposal would allow PCS subscribers to keep one non-geographically assigned phone number, even if they change service providers.
The report-developed by the PCS Portability Workshop of the INC, a standing committee of the Industry Carriers Compatibility Forum, and sponsored by the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions-was presented to the Federal Communications Commission.
The FCC initially must address three questions, stated the report: Who will own and operate the local and nationwide Service Management System database administration and how will they be selected? How will PCS portability costs be recovered? Needing to resolve the preceding questions, when must the industry begin implementing PCS portability?
The committee recommends implementing a high level architecture, using a nationwide PCS SMS database that can support multiple access arrangements, numbering plan areas, and PCS providers’ needs in a competitive environment.
The PCSPW recommends forming an industry group to develop and implement a nationwide PCS database. The group determined it would take four years to develop a database, draw up a time line, establish standards and implement PCS portability.
