Posted on June 22, 2009 by smsgov
This seems to be a hot topic these days. Under rules established in 1997 by the FCC, toll-free service providers cannot reserve a toll-free number without having an actual toll-free subscriber for whom the number is being reserved. By law, available numbers must be doled out on a first-come, first served basis off the main database maintained by the 800 Service Management System (SMS/800). Hoarding numbers is likewise illegal. A subscriber may not acquire more toll-free numbers than they intend to use. By FCC definition, “hoarding” also includes “brokering” which is the illegal lease or sale of toll-free numbers for a fee.
Filed under: Information | Tagged: 1-800, 800 numbers, fcc, toll free brokering, toll free practices | Leave a comment »
Posted on June 20, 2009 by smsgov
The proposed hike in the interstate telephone contribution that consumers might soon be paying into the Universal Service Fund was recently criticized by the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates. The increase would bring the USF contribution to 12.9% of a users bill, compared with the current 11.4%. Every telephone user in the country pays into the USF already. The monies are used to maintain and subsidize rural telephone service to places where it would otherwise be prohibitively expensive.
The USF is controlled by the Universal Service Administrative Company, and overseen by a joint board consisting of FCC and state-level commissioners.
Filed under: Information | Tagged: 1-800, fcc, phone service, telecommunications, toll free | Leave a comment »
Posted on June 15, 2009 by smsgov
The FCC does not play a role in the assignment of numbers to subscribers. However they do set and regulate the guidelines under which 800 numbers can be used and obtained. According to the FCC, hoarding and warehousing numbers is prohibited and punishable with severe fines.
Read more here.
Filed under: Information | Tagged: 800, fcc, free, number, numbers, toll, toll free | Leave a comment »
Posted on June 13, 2009 by smsgov
Along with hoarding, the outright sale of specific toll free numbers is likewise illegal. Some crafty entrepreneurs have attempted to skirt the regulations by “leasing” or “renting” numbers. But industry insiders say the crackdown on illegal use of toll free numbers is aimed at this practice too.
Read more here.
Filed under: Information | Tagged: 800, fcc, free, number, numbers, toll, toll free | Leave a comment »
Posted on June 10, 2009 by smsgov
The FCC has a long history of reviewing legislation with regard to the use of toll free. For instance, the Telecommunications Act of 1996 amended section 228 to impose more stringent restrictions on the use of toll-free numbers to charge consumers for information services. On July 11, 1996, the Commission amended its rules governing interstate pay-per-call (900 numbers) and other information services to address abusive practices that threatened public confidence in toll-free numbers and left telephone subscribers vulnerable to unexpected charges for calls and information services.
Filed under: Information | Tagged: fcc, toll free | Leave a comment »
Posted on May 25, 2009 by smsgov
The FCC does not play a role in the assignment of numbers to subscribers. However they do set and regulate the guidelines under which 800 numbers can be used and obtained. According to the FCC, hoarding and warehousing numbers is prohibited and punishable with severe fines.
Read more here.
Filed under: Information | Tagged: 800, fcc, free, number, numbers, toll, toll free | Leave a comment »
Posted on May 24, 2009 by smsgov
The attempts to profit from the illegal sale of 800, 888, 877 and 866 numbers are in response to rapidly dwindling supplies. Available toll free numbers are at an all-time low and experts advise anyone interested in obtaining an 800 number should act now. Thousands of toll free numbers are registered each day. With a limited number of possibilities, the finite supply is nearly expended. Toll free numbers are assigned by entities called Responsible Organizations, toll free service providers who have access to the SMS/800 database of available numbers.
Read more here.
Filed under: Information | Tagged: 800 number, auction, ebay, fcc, toll free number | Leave a comment »
Posted on May 19, 2009 by smsgov
The Federal Communications Commission has voted to mandate landline phone companies to move faster when their subscribers request moving their phone number to a rival service. The commission will require companies to transfer, or “port,” landline phone numbers within one business day. Wireless numbers are typically ported within one day — in some cases within hours — and the FCC has determined that landline companies should move just as quickly.
The FCC wants procedures developed within about three months. The carriers will then have nine months to comply. Smaller carriers will get an extra six months, for a total of about a year and a half before the new rules will be set in motion.
Filed under: Information | Tagged: fcc, porting numbers, transfer phone service | Leave a comment »
Posted on May 18, 2009 by smsgov
To overcome shortages of 1-800 numbers in the past, 888 and 877 were introduced in 1996 and 1998 respectively. Then, in 2000 the 866 numbers debuted. But toll free numbers have become such a valuable commodity that the stock is once again depleted. With an estimated five year wait before another new pre-fix is added, experts advise that obtaining a number immediately is essential.
Read more here.
Filed under: Information | Tagged: 822, 833, 844, 855, 855 numbers, fcc, sms800, toll free | Leave a comment »
Posted on May 14, 2009 by smsgov
The FCC began investigating hoarding of 800 numbers as far back as 1995, but despite the subsequent release of 888, 877, and 866 pre-fixes, the practice continues to grow along with the skyrocketing popularity of toll free service. The FCC has the 855 pre-fix reserved to alleviate the shortage but has not yet announced plans to release those numbers.
Read more here.
Filed under: Information | Tagged: 800 number hoarding, 800 numbers, fcc, toll free hoarding, toll free numbers | 1 Comment »
Toll Free Service Management System News 