RespOrg
 |
This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (September 2008) |
In North America, RespOrg (a contraction for responsible organization) is a term that refers to the companies that have access to the Service Management System, the database that controls routing on all toll-free telephone numbers. RespOrgs were established in 1993 as part of the FCC order to institute toll free number portability. Toll free numbers include 800, 888, 877 and 866 area codes, as well as any future toll-free area codes created that share the same characteristics.
Every individual ten-digit toll free telephone number is managed by a RespOrg. A RespOrg can be a long distance company, reseller, end user or an independent that offers an outsourced service. There are approximately 350 RespOrg services, and range in size from huge to companies that control only a few numbers.
In the telecommunications industry, the contraction RespOrg is spoken and used more frequently than the full unabbreviated term. It is pronounced as though it were a single word (something like "ressborg") with no pause or break between resp and org.
[edit] FCC regulation
In the United States, according to the regulations of the Federal Communications Commission, the end-user has the right to select their RespOrg and have their numbers transferred to their control. This process is called "porting" or "change of RespOrg" and requires a signed letter of authorization from the end-user. All RespOrgs operate under the same tariff and are required to follow specific guidelines for this process. The guidelines are maintained by a national industry group known as the SMS/800 Number Administration Committee (SNAC), a committee of the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions, and membership is open to any RespOrg.
