CTIA Pres. Tom Wheeler wrote to NARUC Chmn. William Nugent Thurs....

FCC to forbear on wireless number portability deadline of Nov. 24, with some operators asking for delay of at least 30 months to implement requirement. Wireless thousand-block number pooling deadline is on same date but carriers aren’t seeking forbearance in that case. Wheeler wrote that CTIA and NARUC were in “strong agreement on the importance of implementing thousand-block number pooling as a way to mitigate the nation’s shortage of telephone numbers.” However, NARUC has voiced opposition to Verizon Wireless request for forbearance on wireless number portability. Wheeler said Cal. PUC in Nov. had warned that aggressive schedule for wireless number pooling could create problems with service quality or call completion. “Clearly, both of our constituencies desire a smooth implementation of number pooling and a total absence of anything that might affect service quality, or even call completion,” Wheeler wrote: “Installing multiple new systems simultaneously is an invitation to disaster; the technical complexity of either number pooling or number porting is daunting; to require these to be done simultaneously is an invitation to a train wreck, with consumers as the victims.” Wheeler reiterated CTIA position that forbearance was warranted for number porting and said NARUC and CTIA agreed on porting issue. “Joint goal of number pooling is threatened by number porting,” he said.