Methods of assigning, recording and using a location routing number

An IP telephony system obtains control over a group of telephone numbers that can be assigned to its customers' telephony devices under a contract with a first local exchange carrier that originally controlled the group of telephone numbers. The first local exchange carrier assigns one or more location routing numbers to the group of telephone numbers, and the one or more location routing numbers are for the exclusive use of the IP telephony system. The one or more location routing numbers are then recorded against the group of telephone numbers in a local number portability database. Other exchange carriers are then caused to route calls directed to the any telephony number associated with the one or more location routing numbers directly to the IP telephony system. As a result, a second local exchange carrier can terminate telephony communications directly to the IP telephony system, bypassing the first local exchange carrier.