FCC says VoIP providers must offer number portability

Convergence & VoIP This newsletter is sponsored by Logitech As Travel Costs Skyrocket, Companies Find New Routes. U.S. airlines have raised fares about 20 times over the past two years, mostly on business-class travel. That's why more companies are now traveling over the Web, using video conferencing solutions from Logitech. Our webcams and headsets keep workers connected and productive using VoIP and other services. Click here to see how Logitech is moving this revolution forward. Network World's Convergence & VoIP Newsletter, 11/07/07 FCC says VoIP providers must offer number portability By Steve Taylor and Larry Hettick Last week, the FCC issued a ruling that takes VoIP service providers one step closer to becoming (dare we say) full-fledged phone companies by requiring that the VoIP providers offer local number portability. The decision was adopted unanimously. With the ruling, the FCC issued a statement that said by including VoIP providers in extending their mandate it “will further ensure consumers’ opportunity to choose a telephone service provider based on quality, price and service.” According to the FCC, their action “was, in part, a response to numerous complaints by consumers about their inability to port numbers to or from interconnected VoIP providers.” FCC Chairman Martin said in his accompanying statement that “as interconnected VoIP providers have increasingly entered the market, it is important that consumers be able to transfer their number to and from these providers just like transfers between carriers.” Find the Best Audio Conferencing System Download this whitepaper, "Navigating a New Generation of Conference Phone Solutions," to learn how to select the right audio conferencing system to meet your business needs. Discover what to look for based on the size of the room the system will reside, the types of meetings that the system will support and number of participants. Get all of the details today. Click Here for More Information Along with the mandate, the FCC also said that VoIP providers “may not obstruct or delay number porting by demanding excess information from the customer’s new provider,” and it “tentatively concluded” that providers be able to port the users phone number within 48 hours of the customer’s request. The FCC order “also ensures that customers of small wireline carriers can port their telephone numbers to wireless carriers.” The FCC action adds to the list of VoIP provider requirements that are similar in scope to traditional providers. Number portability for traditional carriers was mandated by the FCC in 2003, and the commission has also subsequently required VoIP providers to offer universal service, customer proprietary network information protections and disability access. Editor's note: Starting the week of  Nov. 12, you will notice a number of enhancements to Network World newsletters that will provide you with more resources and more news links relevant to the newsletter's subject. The Convergence & VoIP Newsletter, written by analysts Steve Taylor and Larry Hettick, will be merged with the VoIP News Alert and will be newly named the Convergence & VoIP Alert. You'll get Steve and Larry's analysis of the convergence and VoIP market, which you will be able to read in full at NetworkWorld.com, plus links to the day's convergence news and other relevant resources. This Alert will be mailed on Mondays and Wednesdays. We hope you will enjoy the enhancements and we thank you for reading Network World newsletters.   What do you think? Post a comment on this newsletter

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Contact the author: Steve Taylor is president of Distributed Networking Associates and publisher/editor-in-chief of Webtorials. For more detailed information on most of the topics discussed in this newsletter, connect to Webtorials, the premier site for Web-based educational presentations, white papers, and market research. Taylor can be reached at taylor@webtorials.com Larry Hettick is a Principal Analyst at Current Analysis, the leading provider of competitive response solutions. A 25 year industry veteran, he has focused on Convergence and VoIP since 2000. This newsletter is sponsored by Logitech As Travel Costs Skyrocket, Companies Find New Routes. U.S. airlines have raised fares about 20 times over the past two years, mostly on business-class travel. That's why more companies are now traveling over the Web, using video conferencing solutions from Logitech. Our webcams and headsets keep workers connected and productive using VoIP and other services. Click here to see how Logitech is moving this revolution forward. ARCHIVE Archive of the Convergence & VoIP Newsletter. BONUS FEATURE 90% of IT Managers are leaving their company at risk for a DNS ATTACK. Get the tools and resources you need to keep your DNS healthy and secure. Run a DNSreport on your domain today - 56 critical tests run in 8 seconds. Visit www.dnsreport.com to learn more. (apply coupon NWW2007NLA for a 25% membership discount) PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS AVAILABLE You've got the technology snapshot of your choice delivered to your inbox each day. Extend your knowledge with a print subscription to the Network World newsweekly, Apply here today. International subscribers, click here. SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES To subscribe or unsubscribe to any Network World newsletter, change your e-mail address or contact us, click here. This message was sent to: networking.world@gmail.com. Please use this address when modifying your subscription. Advertising information: Write to Associate Publisher Online Susan Cardoza Network World, Inc., 118 Turnpike Road, Southborough, MA 01772 Copyright Network World, Inc., 2007