Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!texsun!texbell!vector!telecom-gateway From: nvuxr!deej@bellcore.bellcore.com (David Lewis) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Re: 555-XXXX As A Valid Prefix Anywhere? Message-ID: Date: 4 Aug 89 15:57:59 GMT Sender: news@vector.Dallas.TX.US Organization: Bell Communications Research Lines: 40 Approved: telecom-request@vector.dallas.tx.us X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@vector.dallas.tx.us X-TELECOM-Digest: volume 9, issue 276, message 5 of 11 In article , msb@sq.sq.com (Mark Brader) writes: > Lisa Smith (lisa@mips.com) wrote the following in an article in > (the Usenet newsgroup) rec.humor.d: > > > That prefix, 555, isn't fictional everywhere. One of my school friends > > said that his grandfather's phone number, somewhere in South Dakota, is > > a 555 number. He said that it was to his knowledge the only place in > > the U.S. that it was a real prefix though. > > Someone else said that if this was ever true it isn't now. > What do the experts say? The 555 prefix isn't fictional; it's "reserved for special use"; e.g. directory assistance. To quote my favorite source, _Notes on the BOC Intra-LATA Networks -- 1986_ (TR-NPL-000275, April 1986): "In general, the assignment of CO codes within an NPA is handled by the serving BOC... Each assignment should be made ... to the extent that it is feasible in accordance with the following guidelines regarding the sequence of assignment: (1) First-choice codes for CO assignment purposes include all NNX type codes, excluding NN0 codes, and the following seven codes that are currently reserved for special use: "555 -- Toll Directory Assistance 844 -- Time Service 936 -- Weather Service 950 -- Access to Interexchange Carriers under FG (Feature Group) B access arrangements 958 -- Plant Test 959 -- Plant Test 976 -- Information Delivery Service" In other words -- they're not fictional, but it is recommended that they not be assigned to users. Of course, local telcos (including BOCs, but particularly independents) are free to ignore the recommendations. -- David G Lewis ...!bellcore!nvuxr!deej "If this is paradise, I wish I had a lawnmower."