FCC Crack Down

Illegally making the sale of a toll free number can cost you… BIG. By law, phone numbers cannot be sold or brokered. In 1997, the FCC made the sale of 800 numbers illegal. Because of the short supply of available numbers, complaints were pouring in at that time that price gouging for the popular numbers was becoming a common practice. The FCC acted quickly, prohibiting sales.

Read more here.

What is FCC 00-237?

FCC 00-237
TOLL FREE FIFTH REPORT AND ORDER

We look to our Federal Advisory Committee on numbering issues, the NANC, for a recommendation on how best to administer toll free numbers. We ask the NANC to address whether a system of administration similar to that used to administer the NANP or a different system should be established. Among the alternatives NANC should consider is whether the ownership and operation of the centralized toll free database system should be transferred to a non-government and/or non-carrier entity, and whether SMS/800 service should continue to be provided under tariff. Additionally, we seek recommendations from the NANC to facilitate the selection of the administrator through a competitive bidding process similar to the process used to select the North American Numbering Plan Administrator.[1] Specifically, we ask the NANC to develop the necessary technical requirements for toll free number administration. We direct the NANC to submit its recommendations to the Commission within 180 days of the effective date of this Order. Upon receipt of the NANC’s recommendations and public comment, we will move expeditiously to determine whether it is in the public interest to restructure the ownership and operation of the current system of toll free number administration, and, if so, whether a new toll free number administrator should be selected.[2]

Toll Free Administration
Management and Oversight Structure

* Break Up the SMT
* Owner/Operators cannot be affiliated with the Administration, Data Center or SCP
* Need Neutral 3rd party Toll Free Administrator, Data Center and SCP

Toll Free Administration
Management and Oversight Structure

Propose that the current SMT be replaced with a Limited Liability Corporation (LLC) similar to what exists for LNP.

The LLC would be open to any entity that provides toll free service.

LLC members will have equal vote

LLC manages the RFP for toll free vendor(s)

LLC manages vendor performance and costs

LLC manages the day-to-day relationship with the vendor

Each member pays a fee to join the LLC to cover the operational costs of the LLC

The FCC has ultimate oversight over the LLC and toll free administration.

Toll Free LLC

Responsible for
o
+ System planning (both long and short term)
+ Database functional requirements
+ Negotiating vendor contracts
+ Ensuring vendor compliance

Toll Free Pricing

* Toll Free Service no longer provided under SMS/800 Access Tariff
* Simplified pricing elements such as:
o Shared industry costs per Section 251(e) of the Telecommunications Act
o Monthly fee for RespOrg system access
o Enterprise Services

Law Enforcements

Rejecting the challenges of certain privacy groups, the court refused to vacate the FCC’s Order with respect to packet-mode communications and location information. These two capabilities, and other punch list items that were not challenged before the court (including conference call surveillance and timing information), therefore were not altered by the court’s decision. Click here if you would like to read more!

Toll Frees Get Sticky

Following the emergence of a black market for valuable toll free numbers, including catchy vanity numbers, sources say federal authorities are cracking down on the illegal sales of 800 numbers.
Learn more information to protect yourself here.

Why Tap a Phone Line?

You might wonder why someone would want to “tap” a phone line. For fun? For business? To ensure quality? As a law enforcement tactic? There’s lots of reason why and there are important things everyone should know about how and why phone “tapping” came to play. Check this out to learn more!

Toll Free Seller: Busted!

Yes, you can get in trouble for trying to sell a toll free number – who knew? One person actually tried to auction off a toll free on the popular website Ebay…
Ouch! Read more in this guy here.

Air Travel Needs Toll Free

This holiday storm on the East Coast has had a trickle affect that is crippling flights nationwide. And air travel experts all agree–travelers should always call the toll free phone number of their airlines to discuss flight status and travel options. There are far better results than sending emails in these types of circumstances.

The Patriot Act in Action

Has the government gone too far with their so called “regulations” (or lack there of) on phone tapping? If you are asking yourself why the government might want to tap lil’ ‘ol you and just forget about it… Don’t, because you’re in for a big surprise. Read more here.

New Toll Free Area Codes

You’ve decided to get a new toll free number for personal or business use and, alas, the number it took you three hours to think of is already being used by someone else – what to do? Luckily, a new toll free area code may soon be the wave of the future – get ready to make that reservation! The (855) is the next scheduled area code to come out and people are lining up to get first choice. Learn how you can be the first in line for your number of choice here.

Fast Paced Toll Free

Check this out: Toll free service has increased at such a fast pace that the supply of available 1-800 numbers is at an all-time low. According to the Federal Communications Commission 1-800, 888, 877 and 866 numbers are increasingly popular for businesses and for personal use. With no plans for the addition of new numbers, the existing supply is quickly depleting.
Get some useful information here.