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FCC Extends Local
Number Portability to VoIP Carriers |
In a recent ruling
the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
protected the right of consumers to keep the
same, familiar phone number when switching to a
new telephone company. The FCC made clear that
the obligation to provide local number
portability extends to interconnected Voice over
Internet Protocol (VoIP) providers and the
telecommunications carriers that obtain numbers
for them. This action was, in part, a response
to numerous complaints by consumers about their
inability to port numbers to or from
interconnected VoIP providers. The FCC also
initiated a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
seeking comment on additional VoIP numbering
issues.
The FCC clarified that telephone companies may
not obstruct or delay number porting by
demanding excessive information from the
customer's new provider, and specifically
concluded that local number portability (LNP)
validation for a simple number port should be
based on no more than four fields: (1) 10-digit
telephone number; (2) customer account number;
(3) 5-digit zip code; and (4) pass code, if
applicable. In its Notice, the FCC also
tentatively concluded that it should require the
industry to complete simple ports in 48 hours.
The FCC's Order ensures that customers of small
wireline carriers can port their telephone
numbers to wireless carriers. The decision
responds to a stay of the Commission's
Intermodal Number Portability Order by the
D.C. Circuit, which required the FCC to analyze
the impact of its requirements on small entities
under the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
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Commission Prohibits Cable-Apartment Contracts |
In what was seen as good news for AT&T
and Verizon, the FCC unanimously banned
contracts between cable TV companies and
owners of apartment buildings and condo
complexes.
"I believe that people who live in
apartment buildings deserve to have the
same choices as people who live in the
suburbs," FCC chairman Kevin Martin said
at the meeting, which took place on Oct.
31st.
The National Cable & Telecommunications
Association suggested the order may be
challenged in court and stated it could
lead to higher rates for some apartment
dwellers.
Some consumer groups, however, feel it
will result in lower prices for
apartment residents and condo owners,
who make up 30% of the US population.
"Anytime you introduce competition, it
tends to drive prices down," said Bob
Williams, who follows telecommunications
issues at Consumers Union. "It's never
good to have a monopoly."
Under the FCC ruling, individual tenants
could buy their television service from
telephone or satellite companies.
Without the guarantee of exclusivity
among a large group of tenants, Comcast
and other cable providers might be less
likely to offer discounts or special
services.
But Williams, the consumer advocate,
said he is skeptical that landlords
consistently pass on the savings to
tenants.
"When you have exclusive contracts,
there is too much room for mischief,"
Williams said. "People are quite capable
of negotiating for themselves."
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Expanded Local Calling in
Central Louisiana
The Louisiana Public Service
Commission has announced that calls
between Florien in the 318 area code
and Leesville in 337 will become
toll free Nov. 13, 2007. Beginning
on that date, customers with
flat-rate service will no longer pay
toll or usage charges for calls
between those communities.
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NPA Updates
VA 540 Phase 2
Dismissed
On Feb. 22, 2001, the Virginia State Corporation
Commission (SCC) approved a phased implementation of
a three-way geographic split as the relief method
for the 540 NPA. In the first phase Southwest
Virginia split from NPA 540 and was assigned the 276
NPA. The Roanoke and upper Shenandoah Valleys
retained the 540 NPA.
On Oct. 17, 2007, the SCC issued an order of
dismissal for the second phase of the split since
the latest projection shows the 540 area code will
not exhaust until 2015.
NPA 657 to Overlay
NPA 714
On Sept. 20, 2007, the California Public
Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved an all-services
overlay as the relief method for the 714 NPA. The
714 NPA principally serves the communities of
Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Cypress,
Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Huntington
Beach, La Habra, La Mirada, La Palma, Orange,
Placentia, Santa Ana, Westminster and Yorba Linda.
The new 657 NPA will serve the same geographic
areas.
Permissive 10-digit dialing for all calls within and
between area codes 657 and 714 will begin Feb. 23,
2008, and mandatory 10-digit dialing will begin Aug.
23, 2008.
ICC
Authorizes AT&T Request
The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) recently
approved AT&T's application to provide video service
in accordance with the newly enacted Section
5/21-401 of the Public Utilities Act.
AT&T is the first telecommunications company to
petition the ICC for authorization to use, occupy
and construct facilities in public rights of way for
delivery of video service and for authorization to
provide the service since the Cable and Video
Competition law was enacted earlier this year.
Tele-Tech Quality
Tele-Tech's accuracy rating currently stands at
99.992% for the past twelve months. This
industry-leading accuracy level is our main focus,
and one component of delivering accurate data is
ensuring that the software we develop in-house to
maintain our data functions properly. We are proud
to report that since early 2006, our
programming/testing team has delivered new and
upgraded software that has been bug-free! Our
ability to deliver high quality software to our
internal users enhances our ability to deliver high
quality data to our customers. Kudos to our software
development team for helping us remain top-notch
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KFR Services,
500 Oakbrook Lane,
Summerville, SC 29485, USA
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