How does the FCC control toll free numbers?
06/26/2008
When AT&T was broken up in the 80s, toll free numbers came under the control of the FCC. Initially toll free numbers were allocated by exchanges assigned to each carrier. But in 1991, the FCC established the current SMS/800 database making numbers portable from carrier to carrier.
The FCC established the rules, and created the DSMI. The DMSI oversees the 800 Services Management System, aka the SMS or SMS800, which runs the national SMS/800 database. Phone companies that have access into the SMS/800 database are called Responsible Organizations, aka Resporgs.
Although the FCC established rules regarding 800 number warehousing and hoarding of toll free numbers, the FCC does not oversee the assignment toll free numbers and doesn’t have direct access into the toll free number database, which is managed by SMS.
The FCC cannot provide any information about the status of a toll free number or a request for a toll free number on behalf of a customer. The FCC doesn’t reserve or hold numbers or have customer numbers. They are the ultimate arbiter over and can mediate conflicts that arise over the rights of ownership of specific numbers, such as 1-800 RED CROSS or 1-800 SUICIDE.
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October 28, 2008 at 8:16 am
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