Appeals Court Affirms November Deadline on Wireless Number Portability

A federal appeals court on Friday affirmed rules that require wireless providers to upgrade their networks by November, allowing customers to keep their phone number when they defect to another carrier.

Wireless carriers must implement so-called number portability by Nov. 24, a deadline set by the Federal Communications Commission.

Three judges for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit struck down a challenge by Verizon Wireless and the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association to remove the number portability requirement.

Analysts for In-Stat/MDR say the requirement will cost wireless carriers billions of dollars in upgrades and make it easier for customers to leave their carrier, a problem for companies seeking to reduce churn.

“Requiring local number portability is bad public policy, and the resources requires to fulfill this new mandate will unnecessarily be redirected from our core business activities: expanding network quality and reach, improving customer service and initiating new services and products,” Verizon Wireless said in a statement following the court’s ruling. “We will continue to explore our legislative options.”

CTIA president and CEO Tom Wheeler said today the FCC has yet to define how carriers are supposed to comply with the requirement.

“There are only 24 weeks between now and the portability deadline, but the basic “‘how tos’” have yet to be addressed. If there is to be number portability in November, the FCC must announce final rules by Labor Day or consumers will find chaos in the market,” Wheeler said in a statement.

An FCC spokesperson could not be immediately reached for comment.

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