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CNN Live At Daybreak
Got Your Number: New Cell Rules
Aired November 21, 2003 - 05:41 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Are you partial to your cell phone number but not thrilled with your carrier? Starting next week, you will be able to do something about it.
CNN's Gerri Willis explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GERRI WILLIS, CNN FINANCIAL NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): If your cell phone is your lifeline to friends, family and work, you probably can't bear to think of changing your number for any reason. But come Monday, you may not have to, that's when new federal rules go into effect that allow consumers to keep their local cell number when they switch wireless carriers. Regulators and consumer advocates are calling the move a victory for consumers.
MICHAEL POWELL, CHAIRMAN, FCC: The tie that once bound consumers to one particular service or provider is about to be severed. Your phone number belongs to you and you can take it with you. This is a huge improvement for consumers.
WILLIS: A huge improvement and possibly a big bottleneck, too. Americans have some 157 million cell phone accounts. Of those, half are expected to change to a new carrier next year, up from 30 percent this year. And each month, telecom operators will field some 2.3 million service requests for change.
Consumer experts advise patience.
JIM GUEST, PRESIDENT, CONSUMER REPORTS: It's estimated that maybe 20 to 30 million cell phone subscribers will want to switch their service over the next year. So in the first few days especially, the companies will get flooded. It probably makes sense to hold off until they work out some of the glitches, maybe two or three weeks or a month, and then switch your cell phone carrier, if that's what you want to do.
WILLIS: Also, make sure you don't ditch your old service before you switch to the new one. If you do, you could find yourself unable to keep your old number.
(on camera): Also starting Monday, you can switch your home or office number to your cell phone. Keep in mind, though, the change won't come cheap. The FCC says choosing cell service for all of your calls will add $144 to your annual bill.
Gerri Willis, CNN Financial News, New York. (END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: That's a high price to pay.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired November 21, 2003 - 05:41 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Are you partial to your cell phone number but not thrilled with your carrier? Starting next week, you will be able to do something about it.
CNN's Gerri Willis explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GERRI WILLIS, CNN FINANCIAL NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): If your cell phone is your lifeline to friends, family and work, you probably can't bear to think of changing your number for any reason. But come Monday, you may not have to, that's when new federal rules go into effect that allow consumers to keep their local cell number when they switch wireless carriers. Regulators and consumer advocates are calling the move a victory for consumers.
MICHAEL POWELL, CHAIRMAN, FCC: The tie that once bound consumers to one particular service or provider is about to be severed. Your phone number belongs to you and you can take it with you. This is a huge improvement for consumers.
WILLIS: A huge improvement and possibly a big bottleneck, too. Americans have some 157 million cell phone accounts. Of those, half are expected to change to a new carrier next year, up from 30 percent this year. And each month, telecom operators will field some 2.3 million service requests for change.
Consumer experts advise patience.
JIM GUEST, PRESIDENT, CONSUMER REPORTS: It's estimated that maybe 20 to 30 million cell phone subscribers will want to switch their service over the next year. So in the first few days especially, the companies will get flooded. It probably makes sense to hold off until they work out some of the glitches, maybe two or three weeks or a month, and then switch your cell phone carrier, if that's what you want to do.
WILLIS: Also, make sure you don't ditch your old service before you switch to the new one. If you do, you could find yourself unable to keep your old number.
(on camera): Also starting Monday, you can switch your home or office number to your cell phone. Keep in mind, though, the change won't come cheap. The FCC says choosing cell service for all of your calls will add $144 to your annual bill.
Gerri Willis, CNN Financial News, New York. (END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: That's a high price to pay.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
