FCC Record, Volume 10, No. 23, Pages 12001 to 12533, October 30 - November 9, 1995 Page: 12,351

                                
B.    Re   atory Flexiblity Act ...........................            82
C.    Notice and Comment Provision .......................            83
VI.    ORDERING CLAUSES        ................................ 84
APPENDIX A      Initial Regulatory Flexibility Act Analysis
APPENDIX B      Glossary of Terms
APPENDIX C      List of Parties
I      INTRODUCTION
1. Telephone numbers are critical to the routing of telephone calls over the public
switched network in the United States. A telephone number generally identifies the specific
telecommunications customer being called, as well as the termination point of the call. In many
instances, the number also specifies the service provider of the paying customer.  As a
consequence, telecommunications customers cannot generally  tain their telephone numbers if
they wish to change service providers or geographic locations. In some instances, customers
must change numbers if they change the services offered by the same service provider, such as
changing from plain old telephone service (POTS) to integrated services digital network (ISDN)
service.
2. The inability of end users to retain their elephone numbers under these
circumstances 
that is, a lack of number "portability 
appears to deter customers who wish
to select new and diffet services or who wish to choose among competing service providers.
Changing telephone numbers can be more than inconvenient. Businesses that change telephone
numbers, for example, incur administraive and mating costs. These costs, and the potential
loss of customers, may inhibit businesses from selecting new services or new providers. Full
number portability would permit customers to change service providers, services, and even
geographic locations without   having to changheir telephone numbers.
3I the United States, 1-800 numbers are the best exampe of portable telephone
numbers. Since 1981, when AT Order, 7 FCC Red 8616 (1992).