NEWSReport No. CC 97-43   COMMON CARRIER ACTION              August 18, 1997

           FCC Addresses Number Portability Implementation Issues
                            (CC Docket No. 95-116)

       The Commission has released a Second Report and Order addressing various
long-term number portability implementation issues. The Order adopts, with minor
modifications, recommendations submitted to the Commission by the North
American Numbering Council (NANC). The NANC's recommendations reflect
significant, unified efforts by all segments of the telecommunications industry. By
adopting these recommendations, the Commission intends to give carriers clear
guidelines on long-term number portability implementation before the first phase of
number portability deployment begins on October 1, 1997.

     The provision of number portability is one of the obligations that the
Telecommunications Act of 1996 imposes on all local exchange carriers in order to
foster a pro-competitive, deregulatory national policy framework. Congress
recognized that number portability will lower barriers to entry and promote
competition in the local exchange marketplace by enabling customers to switch to a
new local service provider without having to change their telephone numbers.
Number portability permits consumers to select a local telephone company based on
service, quality, and price, rather than on a desire to keep a particular telephone
number.

     Among the actions taken in the Order released today:

o    The Commission adopted the NANC's recommendation that seven number
     portability database regions be established coinciding with the boundaries of
     the seven original Bell Operating Company (BOC) regions. 

o    The Commission adopted the NANC's recommendation that Lockheed Martin
     IMS and Perot Systems, Inc. serve as the administrators for the regional
     number portability databases. 

o    The Commission adopted the NANC's proposed technical and operational
     standards for the provision of number portability by wireline carriers,
     including the requirement that the carrier immediately preceding the
     terminating local exchange carrier (LEC) be responsible for ensuring that
     number portability databases are queried. Both the NANC and the
     Commission found this to be the most efficient and effective method of
     implementing number portability.

o    The Commission directed the NANC to develop standards and procedures
     regarding the provision of number portability by commercial mobile radio
     service (CMRS) providers. 

o    The Commission adopted, on an interim basis, the NANC's recommendation
     that the regional limited liability companies (LLCs), already established by
     carriers in each of the original BOC regions, manage and oversee the local
     number portability administrators, subject to review by the NANC. This
     interim approach will enable the industry and the Commission to acquire
     practical experience with number portability implementation and evaluate the
     performance of the LLCs.

o    The Commission directed the NANC to provide national oversight of local
     number portability administration. Noting that the NANC's expertise is
     critical to addressing future issues regarding number portability deployment,
     the Commission said that parties should first attempt to resolve deployment
     issues among themselves and, if necessary, under the auspices of the NANC.
     
o    The Commission directed the creation of a committee to be chaired by the
     Chief of the Common Carrier Bureau that will oversee number portability
     deployment in the top 100 markets.

     Action by the Commission August 14, 1997 by Second Report and Order
(FCC 97-289).  Chairman Hundt, Commissioners Quello and Ness and Chong.

                                     -FCC-

     News media contact: Rochelle Cohen at (202) 418-0253.
     Common Carrier Bureau contact:  Steven Teplitz at (202) 418-2692.