FCC Approves Home-To-Cell Number Rule

FCC Approves Home-To-Cell Number Rule:

Federal regulators gave the go-ahead Monday for consumers to switch their home phone numbers to their cell phones. The Federal Communications Commission (news - web sites) said people will be able to transfer their numbers as long as their wireless (news - web sites) coverage area overlaps the location of their conventional phone.

In some cases, cell customers also will be able to transfer their numbers to conventional phones. However, the FCC said it needed to gather more information so it could expand the number of people who could do so.

The new home-to-cell number and the limited cell-to-home rules take effect Nov. 24, the same day wireless customers will be able to keep their numbers when they switch cell phone companies. The rules govern customers living in the 100 most populous metropolitan areas and take effect six months later for all others.

'After today, it's easier than ever to cut the cord,' FCC Chairman Michael Powell said. 'By firmly endorsing a customer's right to untether themselves from the wireline network - and take their telephone number with them - we act to eliminate impediments to competition between wireless and wireline services'

(from Associated Press, via Yahoo News).