DA 01-1872

Released: August 7, 2001

**WTB SEEKS COMMENT ON WIRELESS LNP FORBEARANCE PETITION FILED BY
VERIZON WIRELESS**

**WT DOCKET NO. 01-184**

# Comments Due: September 21, 2001

# Reply Comments Due: October 22, 2001

The Federal Communications Commission\'s (Commission\'s) rules require
commercial mobile radio service (CMRS) providers to support service
provider local number portability (LNP) in the top 100 Metropolitan
Statistical Areas (MSAs) by November 24, 2002.[^1] Service provider LNP
is a service that provides residential and business telephone customers
with the ability to retain, at the same location, their existing
telephone numbers when switching from one local telephone service
provider to another.

On July 26, 2001, Verizon Wireless (Verizon) submitted a petition for
forbearance from the LNP requirements.[^2] Verizon states that its
petition pertains only to the LNP obligations on CMRS carriers and that
it does not request forbearance from the separate requirement that CMRS
carriers participate in thousands-block number pooling by Novermber 24,
2002.[^3] Pooling and LNP are linked because they involve substantially
similar technical modifications. Verizon states that granting its
petition would mean that carriers would still be required to upgrade
their networks to be able to participate in number pooling, but would be
relieved of the additional requirement of implementing number
portability.[^4] According to Verizon, forbearance is appropriate
because the CMRS LNP requirements will impose complex technical burdens
and expenses that are not justified by tangible economic benefits. [^5]

We seek comment on Verizon's petition. Parties interested in filing
comments may do so on or before **September 21, 2001** and reply
comments on or before **October 22, 2001**.

This is a \"permit but disclose\" proceeding pursuant to § 1.1206 of the
Commission\'s Rules.[^6] Presentations to or from Commission
decision-making personnel are permissible provided that *ex parte*
presentations are disclosed pursuant to 47 C.F.R. § 1.1206(b).

Comments may be filed using the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing
System (ECFS) or by filing paper copies. Comments filed through the ECFS
can be sent as an electronic file via the Internet to
[http://www.fcc.gov/e-file/ecfs.html]{.underline}. In completing the
transmittal screen, commenters should include their full name, Postal
Service mailing address, and the docket number of this proceeding.
Parties that choose to file by paper must file an original and four
copies of each filing with the Office of the Secretary, Federal
Communications Commission, 445 12^th^ Street, S.W., Washington, D.C.
20554, and a diskette copy with the Commission's copy contractor
International Transcription Service, Inc. (ITS), Room CY-B400, Federal
Communications Commission, 445 12^th^ Street, S.W., Washington, D.C.
20554. The filing should include the docket number of this proceeding:
WT Docket No. 01-184. Filings and comments are also available for
inspection and copying during regular business hours in the Reference
Information Center, Federal Communications Commission, Court Yard Level,
Room CY-A257, 445 12^th^ Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. or may be
purchased from ITS.

For further information concerning this proceeding, contact Jennifer
Salhus, Policy Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, at (202)
418-1310.

-FCC-

[^1]: 47 C.F.R. § 52.31.

[^2]: *Verizon Wireless Petition Pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 160 for Partial
    Forbearance from the Commercial Mobile Radio Services Number
    Portability Obligation*, WT Docket 01-184 (filed July 26, 2001)
    (*Verizon Petition*).

[^3]: 47 C.F.R. § 52.20.

[^4]: *Verizon Petition* at 1.

[^5]: *Id.* at 2.

[^6]: 47 C.F.R. § 1.1206.