You are ready to move to VoIP, and you call your local phone company but they say they will not port your number to the other provider. This is not only poor customer service, but it violates the rules set up by the Federal Communication Commision. It is illegal and monopolistic.

“Under the Federal Communications Commission’s ‘local number portability’ rules, you can switch telephone service providers for wireline, wireless or Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and keep your existing phone number if you remain in the same geographic area. If you are moving from one geographic area to another, however, you may not be able to take your number with you.”
Source: FCC : Keeping Your Phone Number When Changing Service Providers.

Here is how it works:

“VoIP converts the voice signal from your telephone into a digital signal that can travel over the Internet. If you are calling a regular telephone number, the signal is then converted back at the other end. VoIP calls can be made from a computer, a special VoIP phone, a traditional phone with or without an adapter, or using a wireless phone, depending on the type of VoIP service you subscribe to.”
Source: FCC: Voice Over Internet Protocol VoIP

Filing a complaint

If you have a problem porting your phone number from one service provider to another, first try to resolve it with the service provider. If you cannot resolve the problem directly, you have multiple options for filing a complaint with the FCC:

  • File a complaint online
  • By phone: 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322); TTY: 1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322)
  • By mail (please include your name, address, contact information and as much detail about your complaint as possible):

Federal Communications Commission
Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau
Consumer Inquiries and Complaints Division
445 12th Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20554

So our question to you is:
Does Louisburg need a CLEC
for a better phone company?

Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC):
A company that builds and operates communication networks in areas and provides its customers with an alternative to the local telephone company within the existing ILEC’s territory. The term distinguishes new or potential competitors from established local exchange carriers (local exchange carrier) and arises from the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which was intended to promote competition between both long-distance and local phone service providers, to compete with the incumbent Regional Bell Operation Companies (RBOC).

vs

Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier (ILEC):
A LEC is simply a telephone company that provides service to a local calling area.
An ILEC (incumbent local exchange carrier) is a telephone company that provided local service prior to the Telecommunications Act of 1996 which owns most of the local loops and facilities in a serving area. In the U.S., the Regional Bell Operation Companies (RBOCs) that were formed after the divestiture of AT&T and the Independent Operating Companies (IOCs) that are usually located in more rural areas or single cities.