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From: johnl@iecc.cambridge.ma.us (John R. Levine)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: What Happens When 800 Fills Up?
Message-ID: <14553@accuvax.nwu.edu>
Date: 9 Nov 90 14:23:30 GMT
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X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 807, Message 4 of 12


In article <14468@accuvax.nwu.edu> is written:

>Has any particular plan been made for what to do when the North
>American area code for toll-free calls, 800, fills up?

According to the chart in the Telecom Archives, of the 800 possible
prefixes in NPA 800, 434 are assigned to a carrier, leaving 366
totally empty.  Of those 434 prefixes, none to my knowledge are full,
and some appear to be empty as well.  Since you never dial an 800
number without the area code, it should be possible to assign the 1XX
and 0XX prefixes as well.  So at this point, 800 is less than half
full, maybe less than 1/3 full.  At some point in the next few years
when the network is upgraded, the current system of routing 800
numbers by prefix will change to route by full number, allowing
numbers to be reclaimed from carriers who haven't used up the ones
they have.

By the time 800 fills up it will be well past 1995, and I expect
they'll use a prefix like 880 or 888.

It may seem that 800 will fill up quickly with the advent of
residential 800 numbers, but do keep in mind that the fact that half
of the contributors to telecom have one doesn't say much about the
public at large.  I'd get one myself if only I could figure out a use
for it.  Just like a cellular phone.


Regards,

John Levine, johnl@iecc.cambridge.ma.us, {spdcc|ima|world}!esegue!johnl