Wireless Local Number Portability FAQs

Beginning on November 24, 2003, wireless telephone customers in many parts of Ohio will be able to transfer their telephone number when they switch from one wireless carrier to another. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently clarified the rules governing this service, known as wireless local number portability (WLNP).

What is WLNP?

WLNP allows consumers to keep their wireless phone numbers when switching to another carrier within their local geographic area. Initially, this means you will be able to keep your wireless phone number when you switch from one wireless carrier to another. WLNP also allows consumers to keep their wireline phone number when switching to wireless service in some cases.

WLNP does not allow consumers to keep the same phone number when moving outside their local geographic area.

When will WLNP become available?

The FCC has ordered wireless and wireline carriers to offer WLNP to customers in the top 100 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) beginning on November 24, 2003.

Wireless and wireline carriers outside the top 100 MSAs that receive a request to “port” a number must be capable of doing so within six months after receiving the request or by May 24, 2004, whichever is later.

Are any of the top 100 MSAs in Ohio?

Yes, Ohio has seven of the top 100 MSAs: Akron, Cincinnati, Cleveland/Lorain/Elyria, Columbus, Dayton/Springfield, Toledo, and Youngstown/Warren.

How can I find out if I am located in one of these top 100 areas?

Check with your wireless provider to verify if WLNP is available in your area.

What do I need to do if I want to take advantage of WLNP?

Consumers should first contact their prospective new provider. Do not cancel your existing service with your current provider until you have made arrangements with a new provider. Once the port has been completed, you should confirm the cancellation of service with your old provider and finalize your account.

Your new provider will need to know information about your existing account. If you have a copy of a bill from your current provider, it will help to ensure that the personal account information needed to port your phone number is correct (for example, your name as it appears on the bill, address, account number, and phone number).

Will I be charged a fee for porting my number?

The FCC permits wireless carriers to recover the costs of implementing WLNP by assessing fees to all their customers. This has been permitted in advance of the November 24, 2003 deadline, because carriers have incurred costs for WLNP upgrades in preparation for the deadline. These fees may appear as a monthly line item on your wireless bill.  A wireless carrier may also charge you an additional fee when you request to port your number. 

Several carriers have already begun including line-item fees for WLNP on their customers' monthly bills, ranging from a few cents to a little over a dollar. The FCC does not regulate the amount of these fees, but the amount must be just and reasonable.

You should check with your wireless carrier to see if any fees for porting will be charged before you decide to port your number.

If I am signed into a long-term contract, will I still have to pay early termination fees if I port my number to a new carrier?

If you switch carriers before your contract expires, you may be charged an early termination fee by your old carrier. Check your contract before you switch to see if an early termination fee applies. A wireless carrier cannot refuse to allow you to take your phone number to another carrier even if you are still settling your account with them.

Will I have to purchase a new phone?

Depending on your new carrier’s network and service features, you may need to purchase a different phone. Wireless phones purchased from one carrier are often incompatible with another carrier. This is the case whether or not you choose to port your phone number or not. 

Can I port my wireline phone number to a wireless carrier?

The FCC requires wireline carriers to port phone numbers to wireless carriers in cases where the wireless carrier’s coverage area (the area in which wireless service can be received from that carrier) overlaps the rate center in which the wireline phone number is assigned. Check with your prospective wireless carrier to see if wireline-to-wireless porting is available to you.

Wireline carriers operating in the 100 largest MSAs must support wireline-to-wireless number porting by November 24, 2003.  Wireline carriers outside the top 100 MSAs that receive a request to port a number must be capable of doing so within six months after receiving the request or by May 24, 2004, whichever is later.

If you port a number from a wireline phone to a wireless phone, your wireline long distance carrier will not move with you. Your new wireless carrier will generally provide your long distance service.

How long will it take to port my number?

The FCC has not yet set any mandatory time frames. The FCC does however encourage wireless carriers to complete a simple port with another wireless carrier within two and one-half hours. The process may take longer, and you may experience a delay in receiving calls, but you should be able to make calls with your new provider. Your provider will be able to explain this process to you in more detail.

A wireline to wireless port will probably take longer to complete, and could take several days. Before porting between wireline and wireless phones, consumers should ask their new service provider how long the process will take.

How can the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) help?

The PUCO has been a strong advocate for wireless local number portability and is available to consumers as a source of information on the issue. You may contact the PUCO at the numbers listed below.

        Phone:   (800) 686-PUCO (7826)
                     TDD/TTY (800) 686-1750

What do I do if I have a complaint involving WLNP?

               Contact the FCC to register your complaint.

E-Mail:   fccinfo@fcc.gov:
Phone:    (888) CALL-FCC, (888) 225-5322
               TTY: (888) TELL-FCC, (888) 835-5322
FAX:      (866) 418-0232