In recent months, the issue of local number portability (LNP), in general, and the requirement that JSI clients and other "small" (i.e., less than 2 percent of subscribers in the aggregate nationwide) carriers prepare for "one business-day" porting has generated growing interest.  While the FCC almost seems to acknowledge that the outcome ("benefit") will not justify the expense for the affected small carriers, the clock keeps ticking toward the Feb. 11, 2011 deadline. 

For JSI's Business Services Division, and Senior Consultant Bridget Alexander, the ongoing challenge has been to help JSI clients in the shift and to ensure that the plan and its various testing regimens reflect rural ILECs' interests and support client-friendly LNP procedures.  At an industry meeting last November, the LNPA Working Group (LNPA-WG) created the Inter-Carrier Testing (ICT) Subcommittee.  The attending service providers agreed that inter-carrier testing would be needed in order to successfully implement one-business-day simple porting as mandated by the FCC.

At the meeting, a representative of AT&T Mobility, Teresa Patton, was selected to serve as co-chair of the subcommittee and signaled her preference for a wireline co-chair.  JSI's Bridget Alexander volunteered to represent the wireline community, and was named ICT co-chair.  Bridget also serves as co-chair of the ICT Wireline Test Plan Creation Subcommittee.  The plans Bridget helps to create as part of her ICT service will be utilized within the industry to test the ordering process for one-business-day simple ports.