FCC: Landline Number Move Should Take 1 Day, Not 4

Stifel Nicolaus analyst Blair Levin said the order is likely to benefit wireless carriers and cable companies, while imposing new costs on smaller, rural phone companies like Little Rock, Ark.-based Windstream Corp. and Monroe, La.-based CenturyTel Inc. Such companies have fewer customers over which to spread costs.

Phone industry association USTelecom said it supports the FCC's efforts to reduce porting times, but said that given the complexities of the transfer process, the group needs "to carefully review the order to determine its practicality and its effect on our members."

Acting FCC Chairman Michael Copps said the commission has been encouraging the industry for years to shorten its porting intervals, and that the time had come to force action.

Republican Commissioner Robert McDowell joined the two Democratic commissioners for a unanimous vote. The commission has two empty seats.

The FCC also voted to required Internet calling companies to notify their customers and the commission before shutting down. Some companies have abruptly departed from the business, most notably Sunrocket, which stranded 200,000 subscribers in 2007.