The FCC has shortened the timeframe of porting a telephone number from a wireline carrier to another carrier to one business day. The regulations allowed four business days prior to the change. Telecompetitors, especially wireless carriers, have complained that the wireline porting process was too slow and maybe even anti-competitive. Wireless porting can often be measured in hours, not days.
Wireline carriers, particularly smaller rural carriers argued that the shortened porting window would create excessive costs. The FCC disagreed, but did give smaller wireline carriers more time to comply. Wireline carriers have nine months to comply with the new rules – small rural carriers were given 15 months. The clock starts 90 days after the effective date of the order, giving the North American Numbering Council time for input.
