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From: covert@covert.enet.dec.com (John R. Covert  06-Dec-1990 1036)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Worldwide Toll Free Code
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Date: 6 Dec 90 15:36:45 GMT
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X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 870, Message 13 of 13


 From:	BETTY::GMONTI  
 Subj:	Worldwide Toll Free Code

According to an article in _Network World_, there's a move afoot in
Western Europe to implement a worldwide toll free numbering plan.  The
need for such a plan was raised by Hans Fraasen of an ad-hoc carrier
committee examining international toll free calling.  Apparently, the
problem in the European Economic Community is that continent-wide
television ads must list a toll-free number for each country from
which the advertiser accepts calls.  The confusing list of numbers
must be displayed on the screen so viewers can write down the correct
one.

Fraasen proposes that the concept of a toll free area code in each
country be expanded one level to a toll free "country code."  There
wouldn't actually be a "toll free country" just like there is no
specific land area in the US where "area code" 800 resides.  Fraasen
proposes that the toll-free country code be 800, followed by 7 digits.
That should hold the planet until more than 10,000,000 numbers are
needed.  From the UK, it would be dialed as 010-800-XXX-XXXX.  From
the US, it would be 011-800-XXX-XXXX.  From France, 19-800-XXX-XXXX.
The only thing a consumer would have to add to the number would be his
country's international access code.

Using 800 has two advantages: it's not currently used as a country
code and it's familiar to dialers in some countries as "the toll free
area code."

After studying the matter, Fraasen's group will make a recomendation
to the CCITT.  They expect approval in two years and implementation
about one year after that.

Not mentioned in the story: whether individual international 800 users
could restrict their +800 number to being dialed only from certain
countries or only from certain area codes within those countries.


Greg Monti, Arlington, Virginia; work +1 202 822-2633