It has been brought to the LNPA WG’s attention that some service providers, when acting as the Old Local Service Provider in a port, are requiring the New Local Service Provider involved in the port to provide the Social Security Number (SSN) or Tax Identification Number of the consumer wishing to port their number for identification purposes. 

 Due to concerns surrounding the use of one’s Social Security Number or Tax Identification Number, which in many cases can be one’s Social Security Number, in the commission of crimes such as identity theft, it is understandable that many consumers are hesitant or refuse to provide that information for identification purposes.

 Guidelines for the Wireless Port Request (WPR) state that either of the forms of consumer identification, Social Security Number/Tax Identification Number or Account Number, is mandatory only if the other is not provided on the LSR/WPR.

 It is the position of the LNPA WG that the consumer’s Social Security Number/Tax Identification Number shall not be required on an LSR/WPR to port that consumer’s telephone number if the consumer’s Account Number associated with the Old Local Service Provider is provided on the LSR/WPR for identification.

 At its May 2005 meeting, the North American Numbering Council (NANC) endorsed the LNPA-WG’s position as stated above, and agreed to send a letter to the FCC with its endorsement of the LNPA-WG position.