Local Telcos Block Wireless

USAToday:

If you're ditching your home phone to go wireless only, your local phone company has your number.

The problem, Sprint Nextel and T-Mobile say, is the local phone giants don't want to give that number up.

In a recent petition to the Federal Communications Commission, the two cellphone carriers say local phone companies are making it difficult for consumers to transfer land-line numbers to wireless phones. And they say that's dissuading many people from using mobile phones exclusively.