Earlier today, the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau released a Consent Decree resolving an investigation into Ohio-based CLEC, Communication Options, Inc.’s (“COI”), compliance with the Commission’s Local Number Portability rules. COI agreed to pay $65,000 and enter into a compliance plan. A copy of the Consent Decree is linked here:
https://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2012/db0924/DA-12-1489A1.pdf
The Consent Decree terminated the Enforcement Bureau’s investigation into whether COI’s refusal to port a customer’s number to another service provider (apparently due to an intercarrier billing dispute) violated Section 251(b)(2) of the Communications Act and FCC rules. The Bureau opened its investigation after receiving a complaint from the aggrieved carrier that requested the port from COI.
Clients engaged in number porting activities are advised to review the Consent Decree and applicable FCC regulations and to ensure that company policies and practices regarding number porting are in compliance therewith.
Please contact Michael Donahue at mpd@commlawgroup.com or (703) 714-1319 if you have questions or concerns regarding the issues addressed in this Advisory.
