Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and Senator Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) introduced legislation to expand number portability rules. The bill is called the Same Number Act of 2007, and it aims to help consumers keep the same phone number when leaving one voice service for another--regardless of wireless or wireline. The bill also aims to expedite the number portability process because extended waiting periods for number porting could deter some consumers from making a switch.
"This legislation would require the FCC to revisit its number portability rules and extend them to all applicable voice communications services, not just telecom services. As a result, consumers will be able to take full advantage of new choices and cheaper prices as they become available," Stevens said.
The bill specifically establishes porting timelines for different porting scenarios, like wireless to wireline number transfers. It also calls for data exchange requirements for each class of portability and annual reports for the first five years from voice service providers to determine if any changes or adjustments should be made.
For more on the bill:
- read this press release from the senators