For those who can’t bear to part with their cell phone numbers, their “portability” prayers have been answered. Under the Federal Communications Commission’s wireless “local number portability” rules, consumers can now switch wireless carriers within the same geographic area and keep their existing phone numbers.
Starting today, the top 100 Metropolitan Statistical Areas, including Portland, must implement this option, while all other areas must comply within the next six months.
“Currently, Verizon and T-Mobile are ready for switches in Eugene,” said Steve Zagar, sales representative for Totally Cellular, located in the EMU.
For a list of the Metropolitan Statistical Areas, which are heavily populated areas designated by the United States Census Bureau, visit http://www.fcc.gov.
Although the FCC rules do not usually apply to those moving from one geographic area to another, they can apply to service switches from a land line carrier to a wireless carrier.
In agreement with the 1996 Telecommunications Act, the FCC first considered the option as a means of increasing competition within the wireless and land line industries. The wireless industry is already very competitive, however, so the FCC does not regulate the rates of wireless service providers. But for consumers, competition always brings the lowest prices.
“It will certainly boost competition between service providers because it makes the change easier,” Zagar said. “We’ll have to fight a little harder to stay in the market.”
According to the FCC Web site, carriers are allowed to recover their costs of implementing the portability rules by charging fees to customers. Carriers have been allowed to charge monthly fees — from a few cents to more than $1– in advance of today’s deadline because they have been incurring costs for service upgrades to prepare for it.
For the benefit of their new customers, some carriers may choose to pay the old carrier’s costs of switching. Consumers should ask new carriers about policies for paying or reimbursing such charges.
Although they can keep their current numbers, consumers who switch services may also need to buy a new phone. Consumers should ask their new carriers whether their current phones will work within the new network.
Money matters aside, environmentalists say consumers who quickly take advantage of this new option aren’t considering it’s potentially negative effects.
“This is just another indication of consumerism that doesn’t consider environmental concerns,” environmental studies Professor Galen Martin said.
Considering the new FCC rule may cause consumers to purchase new phones, Martin said it may serve to worsen the overflowing conditions of landfills, just like “anything else that promotes a throw-away mentality.”
Although switches from land lines to mobile phones may decrease the number of phones needed per household, Martin said the constant temptations of new cell phone upgrades only encourage overconsumption of communications technology.
“It’s obsolescence in the name of convenience and profit,” he said.
Besides extra charges and environmental concerns, consumers could also experience technical difficulties in the new number portability process.
Although wireless to wireless switches may only take a few hours, land line to wireless switches may take several business days to complete. Also, land line to wireless switches do not carry over long distance services because the new wireless carrier will provide them.
During the switching process from the old carrier to the new carrier, the FCC warns that consumers may also experience a period of “mixed service,” during which two phones may have the same number. For this reason, the FCC advises consumers to ask new carriers how long the process will take and how it will affect location-based features, such as emergency 911 services.
“No doubt there will be some bumps in the road to implementation, but I trust that carriers will use their best efforts to ensure consumers have the highest quality experience possible,” FCC Chairman Michael Powell said in a press release.
For more information about wireless number portability, call the FCC’s consumer center toll-free at 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322).