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Subject:Communication--800 #s depleted From:Kelly Burhenne <burhennk -at- SMTPGW -dot- LIEBERT -dot- COM> Date:Thu, 22 Jun 1995 14:44:09 EST
Text item: Text_1
Though this does not relate directly to technical writing, it does
address a communication issue which I thought it would be of interest
to *everyone*:
*********************************************************************
91% of possible 800 numbers are depleted (that's 6.99 million out of a
possible 7.64 million!) As a result the FCC has mandated rationing of
the remaining numbers. Even with rationing, the available numbers are
projected to run out in early 3Q, 1995!
A new toll free exchange, 888, is scheduled to open on April 1, 1996.
Unless that date can be accelerated (which is doubtful because of the
many programming changes to network switches all across the US--
public and private) that means that toll free numbers will not be
available from as early as July or August of this year until well
after April of 1996!
Kelly Burhenne
burhennk -at- liebert -dot- com
Columbus, OH
