Possibility of Toll Free Rationing?

In the past few years, proposals to ration toll free numbers have been narrowly defeated. Yet, rumors are still swirling that a rationing program for the few remaining 800 numbers is imminent. Supplies of 800, 888, 877, and 866 numbers are so depleted that availability is at an all-time low. But some say rationing the numbers, as the federal government did in 1995, is not the answer and could have a negative impact on the business community.

Toll Free TTY Access

Sprint and Southwest Airlines now offer toll-free TTY (teletypewriter) and video relay access, giving deaf and hard-of-hearing customers direct access to Southwest Airlines customer service. With this toll free service, deaf, hard-of-hearing, and speech disabled customers needing to call Southwest Airlines can dial a dedicated toll-free TTY telephone number: 800-533-1305. That number is answered by a Sprint relay agent. The Sprint relay agent relays information between the Customer Service representative and the relay user in English or Spanish.

Ownership Of Toll Free is Better

Toll Free clients should be advised that they could be unpleasantly surprised down the road if they rent or lease a toll free phone number. Ownership is generally better, far less risks. No surprise loss of a valued number.

Toll Free Utilizing Green Technology

Among the many benefits of signing on for toll-free service are the various features available from service providers such as Qwest, and Verizon. Calls can be routed to an any other phone line and faxes can be routed to email. These types of technological conveniences were just dreams a few years ago–now they are affordable realities. These state-of-the-art features are not available from most typical phone service providers.

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Toll-free Numbers For Home Usage?

Toll free service has gone through several incarnations over the past four decades. First, 800 numbers were primarily used by big business. This is still the case—almost all of the Fortune 500 companies have an 800 number. Then, toll free service became more affordable and easy to obtain, causing a surge in use by small businesses, online companies, and not-for-profits. Now, personal use is all the rage.

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Phone Service Injunction in the U.S. Likely

Recent reports have referred to the situation as the ‘the perfect storm” meaning the shortage of numbers, the soaring demand, and the failure of the federal government to release reserved numbers have all collided to create a situation in which rationing, an embargo or even a complete depletion of 800 numbers is possible.

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Where Have All The 1(800) Numbers Gone?

So, where are all the 800 numbers going? Industry experts say toll free service is now a staple of any type of business. Small business owners, following the lead of the CEO’s of nearly half the Fortune 500 companies, are securing toll free vanity phone numbers as a strategic marketing tool. Personal use of toll free numbers has skyrocketed as parents secure an 800 number to stay in touch with their teens, college-aged children, and elderly parents.

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Toll Free Rationing Looms Ahead

In the telecommunications industry, we are once again hearing rumors of toll free rationing. The federal government rationed 800 numbers in 1995 until the new 888 pre-fix was introduced a year later. Now, the supply of available 1-800 numbers is again nearly depleted. This marketing tool has been so successful that the available numbers are decreasing while demand is growing at unprecedented rates. If rationing is implemented, obtaining a new toll free number will be more difficult than ever before.

Why The Difficulty In Obtaining An 800 Phone Number?

Industry insiders say the soaring popularity of toll free service combined with the failure of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to release additional numbers have created a tight supply of 800 numbers in heavy demand.

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Dearth Of Toll Free Numbers Continues On.

The dearth of toll free numbers continues. More than two-thirds of the available supply of 800, 888, 877, and 866 numbers are taken and millions of new subscribers are registering every year. Business owners who wait much longer to obtain a number might find themselves out of luck. In a competitive market, a toll free number is a valuable commodity for every business. Some carriers still have access to a good stock of numbers but with toll free in such demand, one cant help but wonder how long these supplies will last?