Insights

The FCC and Driving the Future of Toll-Free: A Fireside Chat at TFUS19

Oct 16, 2019

It’s been a big year for the Toll-Free Industry:

In May, the number of Toll-Free Numbers reserved passed the 42 million mark!

In December, we’ll experience the first ever Toll-Free Number Auction.

And at Somos, 2019 has been marked by advancements in new platforms including TFN Identity as well as improvements in existing solutions including RouteLink.

To engage in a deeper conversation around all the amazing things that have been happening and those which are to come, Daniel Kahn and Scott Mackoul, both of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), joined Somos’ own leading regulatory and number administration authority, Ann Berkowitz, to discuss developments impacting Toll-Free during the TFUS19 session, Fireside Chat with the FCC.

The session started with a discussion around the upcoming 833 Toll Free Number Auction. The goal of the auction is to create a level playing field for everyone that participates, so that those who value the numbers most get them. Since this is the first auction of its kind, the FCC will be carefully assessing the auction and specifically interested in whether or not participants found that this method of number distribution is efficient, orderly and fair. Scott and Daniel were careful to remind organizations that participate in the auction that there is a strict rule against prohibited communications—specifically, applicants bidding in the auction should not discuss their bid(s) or bidding strategy with others, fellow participants or not.

The conversation then moved on to two issues of concern in the Toll-Free industry that are pending with the FCC:

• Forwarding location-based data and
• Toll-Free traffic pumping.

While Daniel and Scott could not comment on issues regarding either preceding, both noted that these issues are being taken seriously at the FCC. Daniel further encouraged any and all concerned parties to meet with the FCC to voice their thoughts.

The conversation next turned to everyone’s least favorite wrinkle in telecom: robocalling. As the top consumer protection concern at the FCC, Daniel noted that the FCC has implemented several policymaking efforts to fight robocalling in the past year. This includes but isn’t limited to: encouraging top voice carriers to implement STIR/SHAKEN by the end of the year, updating rules around truth in caller ID and proposing policy that would allow carriers to block unverified calls.

For the FCC, the goal is clear: Let’s make sure that people can trust the calls they receive and help consumers ensure that the services they value are successful in supporting them while Making the Perfect Connection.