Local Number Portability, or LNP, has been a hot topic recently among consumers and people working in the wireless communication industry. LNP is a new technical capability mandated by the FCC designed to allow consumers to easily switch between telephone companies while keeping their existing telephone numbers. LNP is being aggressively fought by the CTIA and its individual members, including Verizon Wireless, which released a statement claiming that the FCC would accomplish nothing by mandating it:

Requiring local number portability is bad public policy, and the resources required to fulfill this new mandate will unnecessarily be redirected from our core business activities: expanding network quality and reach, improving customer service, and initiating new services and products…Before the portability requirement is effective, American consumers should expect that when they change wireless service providers and want to keep their phone numbers, the process is easy and automatic.

While I think it will be awesome to be able to keep my phone number if I should decide to switch to a different phone company, I find myself agreeing with Verizon’s premise – the FCC needs to explain to carriers how to separate the phone numbers from the geographic information they are currently based on. They also need to think about whether it’s in the public’s best interest to have to dial a 10-digit phone number for a person next door, which is already in places like Michigan, Chicago^*, and New Jersey, but will become even more prevalent when numbers start to move across town (or potentially, across states).

The FCC needs to figure out how LNP is supposed to work before it’s implemented. Otherwise, you might need to keep the “dialing instructions” in your phone book handy.

^* LINK TENDING 1/11 – Removed dead link.

Yesterday, I went to a high school graduation. In attendance were many of the people in my church small group, both soon-to-be graduates and well-wishers.

I’ve barely graduated from high school, but it has been a year longer than the graduates of the class of 2003. My thoughts, though woefully incomplete, may be of potential use to the new graduates. So, without further ado, here’s a list of suggestions to follow I’ve learned since I left from high school:

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Ruben Studdard wins! (Of course, I shouldn’t know this because the show won’t air in Hawai’i for another 1½ hours ) Although I haven’t been following Idol “religiously,” I do know that Ruben’s charm, humility, and incredible voice won me over, from the very first time I heard him sing “Sweet Home Alabama.”

Congratulations also to Clay. His voice was amazing too; it might have been even better than Ruben’s. But in my mind, Ruben had the stage presence to back up his singing.

I hope Ruben’s humility continues as he begins his professional career. We need more artists saying “It’s all about the fans.” In fact, we need more of that from everybody.

UPDATE 5/21 11:22 PM – The fact that Ruben’s fans watched him from a church in Birmingham, and that the American Idol web site lists his past experience as performing with a band called “God’s Gift,” I’m even more confident of my initial feelings that Ruben might be a Christian. (I couldn’t find anything on the band.) Anybody know better?

Also, I’m shocked that with 24 million votes, only 1,335 separated Clay and Ruben. It’s a good thing I’m not a Floridian; I’d have to demand a recount if I was.

UPDATE 2 5/22 6:08 PM – It turns out the difference was 130,000 votes, not 13,000 or 1,300. Perhaps Ryan needs glasses?