Group Urges FCC To Ensure Planned LNPA Shift Won't Harm Small Carriers, Consumers

The LNP Alliance urged the FCC to "monitor closely" its planned transition to a new local number portability administrator, iconectiv (Telcordia), "to ensure there is no undue impact on smaller carriers and their customers." The group sent a letter to Wireline Bureau Chief Matt DelNero that was posted Monday in docket 95-116. "We are particularly concerned about the timing and the cost of the LNPA Transition, and the manner in which the LNPA Transition is coordinated with the IP Transition," said the letter. The LNP Alliance said North American Portability Management and others have offered conflicting information about the timing of the LNPA transition, "ranging from March 2017 to November 2017 to still later." The LNP Alliance said it supported creation of a "public timeline" for the transition, even if it needed to be adjusted later, so "small and large carriers alike have equal access" to timing plans. The group said it also was concerned that the "direct costs to small carriers have not been clarified publicly" and about "the interrelationship between the LNPA transition and the IP transition." It was concerned "there could be added costs and/or disruption of services if there is not close coordination between the LNPA and IP Transitions." Various small-carrier and consumers groups recently asked that the transition process be opened up and made more transparent (see 1510300060). A transition outreach webcast is scheduled for Wednesday, 3-4 p.m., a bureau public notice said recently.