Public Knowledge Urges FCC to Seek Comment on Porting Practices
Public Knowledge became the first group to note meetings on a draft FCC notice seeking comment on uniform, industrywide handset unlocking requirements, teed up for a July 18 commissioner vote (see 2406260058). Public Knowledge Senior Vice President Harold Feld spoke…
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with aides to Commissioners Geoffrey Starks and Nathan Simington, according to filings last week in docket 24-186. The group “enthusiastically supports” the proposed notice, PK said. “Consumers have benefited from the Verizon unlocking condition and the overall agreement by carriers to unlock cell phones that are fully paid for.” But PK also asked that the FCC seek comment on whether carrier practices on number porting “either accidentally or by intent -- create barriers to switching.” The group noted the agency hasn’t “systemically examined” number porting practices for 15 years: “Despite the establishment of basic standards, we have heard anecdotal evidence that different carriers require different types of documentation or pin numbers for security purposes, and may have inconsistent practices regarding wait times for assistance that discourage subscribers from transferring their phone contracts.”