First US Auction of Toll-Free Numbers Takes Place Today

Auction Will Include Over 17,000 Sought-After Numbers in the 833 Code

The FCC’s first-ever auction of toll free numbers will be conducted today.  It will include 17,638 numbers in the 833 toll-free code for which there have been competing requests.  Many of these numbers are easy to remember, such as 833-FLOWERS or 833-333-3333.

The 833 auction will serve as an experiment in using competitive bidding to assign toll free numbers and ensure that sought-after numbers are awarded to the parties that value them most.  Currently, most toll free numbers are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis, a system that does not factor in the need for or value of a number.  The FCC will use the lessons learned from this first-of-its-kind auction to determine how best in the future to distribute toll free numbers equitably and efficiently.

Forty-four applicants have qualified to bid in the 833 auction, which will be conducted by Somos, Inc., the Toll Free Numbering Administrator.  For more information about the auction, visit https://auction.somos.com/

Source: FCC media announcement