CTIA Pres. Thomas Wheeler told FCC Chmn. Powell in letter Thurs. ...

masquerading in consumer clothing.” Verizon Wireless in July petitioned FCC to exercise forbearance on LNP requirements that begin Nov. 24, and other carriers have supported request and sought at least 30 month reprieve. State PUCs, wireless resellers and Leap Wireless have objected to forbearance request, arguing that it would harm consumer choice. Wheeler told Powell that one problem with LNP mandate was that it would “force carriers to redirect spending that otherwise would go to expanding consumer service.” Wheeler said wireless number portability had been estimated to cost $900 million to install and $500 million to maintain: “There is no cost/benefit analysis to support a Commission action that forces carriers to redirect scarce resources from system build-outs and expanded coverage to number portability that is neither mandated by Congress, nor warranted by a lack of wireless competition.” Wheeler contended that “in the name of competition,” Commission rule would put wireless carriers in position of having to choose between subscribers’ desire for competitive prices and competing consumer desire for service quality. “The funds necessary for the continued expansion of service quality are going to have to come from somewhere, especially if the availability of those funds is reduced by multiple billions of dollars [over the next several years] to pay for the number portability regulation,” Wheeler wrote.