On Wednesday, the folks at the Federal Communications Commission clarified the rules with regards to local number portability, i.e. the ability to transfer your number between telephony providers in the US.

While many internet telephony service providers have offered the ability to bring in your telephone number to the service and bring it out again once you switch services, none of them have given you the ability to port out a number the VoIP provider gave you. The FCC is making that practice against the rules.

Furthermore, the validation requirements for a number port have been simplified. Only four pieces of data are needed: 10 digit #, account #, 5 digit zip code, and passcode. Once these pieces of information are provided, a simple number port is supposed to take no less than 48 hours, according to FCC rules.

Of course, it's one thing for the FCC to make these rules, it will be another thing for these companies to actually follow them. What do you bet the FCC fields more complaints the next several weeks while the providers work to comply?

Hat tip to Andy Abramson