[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 104 (Monday, June 1, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29734-29735]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-14378]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[CC Docket No. 95-155]


Toll Free Service Access Codes

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice; letter.

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SUMMARY: The Common Carrier Bureau has issued a letter to Database 
Service Management, Inc., extending the time for subscribers holding 
toll free 800 numbers to exercise their right of first refusal to 
request corresponding toll free 888 numbers that were set aside for 
them. The letter also extends the time for RespOrgs to report 
subscriber requests to DSMI and for DSMI to process and verify RespOrg 
reports as they come in, and it directs DSMI to take several other 
actions to ensure: That all subscriber requests to retain their set-
aside numbers are promptly assigned and activated as ``working''; that 
no subscriber requests get rejected for being submitted late; and that 
all set-aside numbers for which subscribers did not respond in writing 
are placed in ``unavailable'' status rather than ``spare'' status, 
while the Commission audits them to ensure that subscribers received 
adequate notice from the RespOrgs.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marty Schwimmer 202-418-2334.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We are attaching this letter to this 
document for the readers' convenience.

Federal Communications Commission.
Geraldine A. Matise,
Chief, Network Services Division.
May 15, 1998.
Mr. Michael Wade,
President, Database Service Management, Inc., 6 Corporate Place, 
Room PYA-1F286, Piscataway, NJ 08854-4157.
Re: Processing of set-aside 888 numbers for subscribers holding 
corresponding 800 numbers

    Dear Mr. Wade: The Bureau's letter to you dated April 2, 1998, 
established a 90-day schedule to transfer to RespOrg control or to

[[Page 29735]]

release into ``spare'' status 888 vanity numbers that were set aside 
for subscribers holding corresponding 800 numbers. Your letter dated 
April 10, 1998, indicates that the 90-day schedule does not allow 
sufficient time for DSMI to process and verify RespOrg reports of 
subscriber requests for these numbers. The Bureau in this letter now 
extends the time for subscribers to request numbers that were set 
aside for them, for RespOrgs to report subscriber requests to DSMI, 
and for DSMI to process and verify RespOrg reports as they come in. 
It also directs DSMI to take several other actions, which are 
intended to ensure: (1) That all subscriber requests to retain their 
set-aside numbers are promptly assigned and activated as 
``working''; (2) that no subscriber requests get rejected for being 
submitted late; and (3) that all set-aside numbers for which 
subscribers did not respond in writing are placed in ``unavailable'' 
status rather than ``spare'' status, while the Commission audits 
them to ensure that subscribers received adequate notice from the 
RespOrgs.
    Under the current 90-day schedule, RespOrgs were required in the 
first 20 days, which ended April 25, 1998, to notify their 
subscribers that they may choose to reserve their set-aside numbers. 
In the next 30 days, subscribers must submit written requests to the 
RespOrgs in order to retain their numbers, and they are permitted to 
submit written requests to release the numbers as ``spare.'' In the 
following 30 days, RespOrgs must report the subscribers'' requests 
to DSMI, with documentation of each subscriber's request or 
certification that the subscriber did not respond. In the last 10 
days, DSMI must complete processing the requests.
    The Bureau is concerned that erroneously releasing a number into 
``spare'' status contrary to a subscriber's intent would not be a 
correctable error if the number then becomes ``reserved,'' 
``assigned,'' or activated as ``working'' for the account of another 
subscriber. (Erroneously assigning and activating a subscriber's 
set-aside number as ``working'' would presumably be correctable, by 
placing it in the proper status and ensuring that the subscriber is 
not charged for it.) It is therefore imperative to verify, for each 
number that a RespOrg certifies the subscriber did not respond, that 
the subscriber received adequate notice of right of first refusal 
from the RespOrg before releasing the number into ``spare'' status.
    Other potential problems, in addition to inadequate notice, 
could also necessitate additional time for processing or for 
correction and re-processing. Among these may be, for example, 
failure by subscribers to mail their requests to RespOrgs or to mail 
them by May 24, 1998, or mishandling of written subscriber requests 
by RespOrgs or their agents, or failure or inability of RespOrgs or 
their agents to report subscriber requests correctly to DSMI. 
Compounding or contributing to these possibilities, other events 
might transpire during or after the 90-day period--for example, a 
subscriber might change RespOrgs, an 800 number might be 
disconnected or suspended, or an 888 number that is returned to 
RespOrg control for activation as ``working'' might instead be 
placed in ``reserved'' status (and 45 days later automatically moved 
to ``spare'' status if the subscriber fails to submit a further 
request to activate).
    In light of these concerns, the Bureau modifies the process for 
handling the 888 numbers that were set aside for subscribers holding 
corresponding 800 numbers, as follows.
    1. Written subscriber requests received from RespOrgs by August 
21, 1998--Processed by DSMI by September 10, 1998--Activated by 
September 30, 1998. The Bureau directs DSMI to instruct the RespOrgs 
that additional time is allotted, until August 21, 1998, for 
RespOrgs to complete notifying subscribers of their right of first 
refusal, for subscribers to respond to the RespOrgs' notification in 
writing, and for RespOrgs to report all results to DSMI (with 
documentation of written subscriber requests and certification of 
all other results). The Bureau also directs DSMI to instruct the 
RespOrgs that they may set target dates for subscriber responses, 
consistent with this time schedule. The Bureau further directs DSMI 
that, for all 888 number requests that are reported to DSMI and 
received from RespOrgs by August 21, 1998, and that are documented 
by written subscriber requests (rather than by RespOrg certification 
of other results), DSMI will have an additional 20 days for 
processing those written subscriber requests, until September 10, 
1998. In that time, DSMI must complete all processing, place into 
``spare'' status all numbers to be released, place into ``assigned'' 
status all numbers that subscribers wish to retain, transfer to the 
RespOrgs control of numbers that are to be activated as ``working,'' 
and instruct the RespOrgs to complete activation of those numbers as 
``working'' within 20 days thereafter, no later than September 30, 
1998.
    2. Late-filed written requests--Acceptance--Requests to reserve. 
The Bureau directs DSMI to instruct the RespOrgs that they may not 
reject written requests from subscribers received after August 21, 
1998, and that they must submit to DSMI, on an ongoing basis, all 
written requests with accompanying documentation as they come in 
from subscribers no later than 30 days after receiving them. The 
Bureau instructs DSMI to process all such requests within 20 days of 
receiving them, and, upon completion of processing, place into 
``spare'' status all numbers requested to be released, place into 
``assigned'' status all numbers that subscribers wish to retain, 
transfer to the RespOrgs control of numbers that are to be activated 
as ``working,'' and instruct the RespOrgs to complete activation of 
those numbers as ``working'' within 20 days thereafter. The Bureau 
permits DSMI to request more than 20 days to process late-filed 
requests, if DSMI's request is due to a reduction in DSMI's work 
force needed to comply with this letter.
    3. ``No response'' numbers--``Unavailable'' status--Commission 
audit. The Bureau directs DSMI to retain in ``unavailable'' status 
those set-aside 888 numbers for which subscribers did not respond, 
and not to release those numbers into the general pool as ``spare'' 
unless and until the Commission informs DSMI otherwise. The Bureau 
also directs DSMI to instruct the RespOrgs that, for DSMI to verify 
documentation, each certification of no subscriber response that a 
RespOrg submits to DSMI must include subscriber contact information, 
containing at least the name, address, and phone number of the 
subscriber and the date and means by which the RespOrg notified the 
subscriber of the right of first refusal. The Bureau further directs 
DSMI to inform the RespOrgs that, after September 10, 1998, the 
Commission will audit those numbers and the documentation with which 
the RespOrgs certify that subscribers did not respond in writing, to 
ensure that the subscribers received adequate notice from the 
RespOrgs of their right of first refusal.
    Following completion of the process directed in this letter, the 
time for subscribers to exercise their rights of first refusal will 
come to an end when the Bureau directs DSMI to release the remaining 
``unavailable'' set-aside 888 numbers into ``spare'' status.

      Sincerely,
Geraldine A. Matise,
Chief, Network Services Division.
[FR Doc. 98-14378 Filed 5-29-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P