- OBF/SNAC Issues 3119 and 3120 and FoN Issue FTN#4 — Geographic origination of toll free calls. Addressing technological developments and the evolution of number assignment policies that directly affect the ability to route Toll Free calls based on ANI. The proliferation of nomadic communications technologies and new portability rules have caused an erosion to the relationship that has historically existed between numbering and geographic location. Accurate routing of Toll Free calls (critical for Shared Use Toll Free Services) may depend upon the availability of developing new technologies and services.
- ENUM, VOIP, Cell Phones and Computers. Understanding the effect of ENUM on PSTN toll free, and how the two will evolve and co-exist. Shop by internet vs. shop by phone. How will Toll Free evolve as a method of connecting the business world to consumers, in a world of URLs, social networking and click to talk?
- SMS/800 (equality for access methods GUI vs MGI, template functionality). How to continue to ensure an equal and fair playing field for all users of the SMS/800 database. What additional precautions can be introduced to guard against unauthorized transfers of numbers?
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- Industry Guidelines for Toll Free Number Administration – review Guidelines Document; develop recommended revisions; consider proposal for FCC codification of sections of the Guidelines
- OBF/SNAC Issue 2429 – Improvement of Resp Org Change Procedures on “xxx99”.
- OBF/SNAC Issue 2612 – Standardized Toll Free Call Processing for Vanity Numbers Exceeding 10 Digits.
- OBF/SNAC Issue 2614 – Wireless Toll Free Call Processing
- OBF/SNAC Issue 2617 – Anti-Slamming Protective Measures. Introduction of Special Resp Org code “xxx00” to indicate special Help Desk procedures for advanced notification prior to making a Help Desk Rep Org change.
- OBF/SNAC Issue 2877 - Toll Free ENUM
- Opening a dialogue on the potential for creating an open market for the exchange of toll free telephone numbers.
- Monitoring and reporting on major developments and opportunities (Regulatory, Technology, and Market Applications) related to Toll Free, including:
- Toll Free Numbers becoming fully Internet Compatible.
- Full motion video and multi-media when a Toll Free number is dialed from a personal computer or smart phone (i.e. iPhone).
- SMS text messaging compatible Toll Free.
- International Toll Free Monitoring - (What happens in Australia, UK, Austria, Melasia?)
- NexGen:
- IP Functionality on Toll Free
- Presence (Location based services)
- Technology / Internet Name Updates
ENUM
ENUM, or electronic numbering, converts a telephone number
into an Internet address (url) for VoIP. As VoIP continues
to grow, global implementation of ENUM appears more certain.
This is a critical issue for the toll free industry. To date,
ENUM does not include any safeguards to ensure that the individual
or entity registering a toll free number is in fact the subscriber
or service provider for that subscriber. This opens the door
to slamming. As a first step in protecting the toll free industry
from such slams, AFTA has presented the ENUM Forum with a
proposal that would require conforming the ENUM registrations
for toll free numbers to the Resp Org processes. A more far-reaching
decision is expected shortly. The guideline changes incorporating
the AFTA proposals are currently under review by an industry
committee.
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SMS 800 Database Management
A straw proposal outlining terms of governance
for a limited liability corporation (LLC) overseeing the transfer of control and ownership of the SMS database was presented to the FCC (read the
complete straw proposal below). AFTA’s role in the process
is to protect the needs and rights of small and medium Resp
Orgs. The next step will be to draft the legal documents governing
the LLC. We’ll keep you apprised about important upcoming
decisions, to ensure that you have an opportunity to voice
your opinion about how the SMS database is managed.
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SNAC Issue # 2617
1-800-AFTA and its members have been particularly active
in pressing SNAC to strengthen anti-slamming protections for
toll free numbers. While the slamming of outbound telephone
service may result in an inconvenience to the subscriber and,
generally minor, financial ramifications, the slamming of
toll-free service results in disruption of service and, frequently,
interruption of the business of the subscriber whose number
is slammed. Nonetheless, current anti-slamming protections
for toll-free numbers are exceedingly weak, in sharp contrast
to the strict regime and fines (up to $40,000 per incident)
which exist on the outbound side. Spearheaded by AFTA members,
the following letter was recently sent to the FCC by the SNAC
committee:
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PayPhone Compensation Regulations
In May 2004, after submitting written comments, AFTA representatives
held a series of meetings at the FCC to address proposed changes
to payphone compensation regulations. As a result, the FCC
has already agreed to allow major carriers to manage and administer
payphone compensation for smaller switch-based resellers.
Companies that opt to keep these arrangements in place will
be exempt from proposed onerous audit requirements. This is
a significant win for AFTA and the toll free service providers
it represents.
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