Wireless Local Number Portability

ALSO CALLED: LNP, Mobile Number Portability, Local Number Portability, Wireless Number Portability, WLNP, Number Portability, MNP, Wireless LNP, Telephone Number Portability
DEFINITION: Local Number Portability (LNP) is the ability of a telephone customer in the U.S. to retain their local phone number if they switch to another local telephone service provider. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 required that the local exchange carriers (LECs) in the 100 largest metropolitan markets provide this capability by the end of 1998. The idea is that by removing the personal inconvenience  … 
Definition continues below.

WIRELESS LOCAL NUMBER PORTABILITY DEFINITION (continued): …  of having to get a new phone number when changing service providers, competition among providers will be increased. LNP is one of the prices that local carriers must pay in order to be allowed to compete as well in the long-distance market.LNP is made possible by the Location Routing Number (LRN). In the future, phone number portability may be extended so that customers can retain their phone number when they move to another locality. LNPs and LRNs are supervised by the Number Portability Administration Center operated by NeuStar, Inc. under the appointment of the Federal Communications Commission … 
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