FCC Passes Cell Phone Number Portability Regulation

State Journal, The, June, 2003 by Elmer, Joann C

For anyone who has ever marked all over their business cards to update their latest cell phone number, be prepared to put that pen to rest. If you change wireless service providers after November, the Federal Communications Commission said you can keep your phone number.

A federal court agreed with the FCC earlier this month and said consumers should be able to transfer a phone number if they switch service providers; a practice the industry calls "number portability."

The three-judge panel of the U.S. Court Appeals said it was reasonable for the FCC to create a regulation that would give dissatisfied consumers more freedom to change carriers. The court has mandated all cell phone service providers be in compliance by November. The days of constant number switching may...

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