General Discussion

as a general rule. If they’re giving you the runaround, you should let them know that you can file a complaint with the FCC, and they can be fined. Even now, they’re federally required to let you keep your number.

You need to go to the new provider first to set up an account and tell them you want to keep your number. Don’t cancel with your old (current) carrier first, or you could risk being without service for a period and also losing your number.

For more information:

• How To Switch Phone Carriers: 9 Easy Steps (tips from consumer finance expert Clark Howard’s team) - https://clark.com/technology/switch-cell-phone-need-to-know/


• Porting: Keeping Your Phone Number When You Change Providers (FCC) - https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/porting-keeping-your-phone-number-when-you-change-providers


• Enabling legislation (Telecommunications Act of 1996) -
  https://workinggroup.numberportability.com/sites/workinggroup/files/2022-09/fcc96286_WzUY2cg.pdf