Can I keep my current
phone number?

You own your phone number(s).

The local phone company provides
service for your phone but you own
the number(s) and have the right to
transfer your phone service to any
provider. The FCC has expanded local
number portability to VoIP service providers

FCC EXPANDS LOCAL NUMBER PORTABILITY TO VoIP.

The right of consumers to keep the same, familiar phone number when switching to a new telephone company was expanded today by the Federal Communications Commission, in an Order that will further ensure consumers’ opportunity to choose a telephone service provider based on quality, price and service.

The FCC made clear that the obligation to provide local number portability extends to interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol providers and the telecommunications carriers that obtain numbers for them. This action was, in part, a response to numerous complaints by consumers about their inability to port numbers to or from interconnected VoIP providers.

The FCC also clarified in its Order that telephone companies may not obstruct or delay number porting by demanding excess information from the customer’s new provider. In its Notice, the FCC also tentatively concluded that it should require the industry to complete simple ports in 48 hours.