The FCC has released a notice of proposed rulemaking seeking comment on how to make toll free number distribution more equitable and efficient than the existing 20-year old system with a goal of providing the public with a better opportunity to acquire the numbers they want, to recognize the value of unique numbers, and to create incentives for toll-free numbers to be put to use quickly and efficiently by non-profit organizations and even government entities. Organizations depend on toll-free numbers to give consumers easy access to sales departments, customer service representatives and even vital health and safety services. The Commission’s notice of proposed rulemaking also proposes adopting a competitive auction for assigning vanity and repeater numbers in the new 833 code for which there is competitive demand.
