1. Provisional rules for the allocation
of numbers for freephone services
published in
Official Gazette of the Federal Minister of
Posts and Telecommunications No. 17/97
Administrative Order No. 138
2. 1. Scope of allocation
These rules apply to the allocation of numbers for freephone services (freephone
numbers).
For the purpose of these rules freephone services mean telecommunications services
which are identified by a national service code and which are free of charge for the
caller. The right to charge for the use of terminal equipment remains unaffected.
2. Numbering range
Freephone numbers occupy the range (0)800 of the national public telephone network
numbering range defined in ITU-T Recommendation E.164; they begin with the service
code 800 which is preceded by the prefix (0) and followed by a seven-digit subscriber
number.
The structure of freephone numbers is therefore:
Prefix Service code 800 Subscriber number (7 digits)
National (significant) number (10 digits)
The service code 801 will be kept in reserve.
3. Basis for allocation
Freephone numbers are numbers as defined in § 3 subpara 10 of the
Telecommunications Act of 25 July 1996 (Federal Law Gazette I p 1120). Freephone
numbers are allocated by virtue of § 43 of the Telecommunications Act according to
these rules.
The regulatory authority can amend these rules if this proves necessary.
The allocation of a freephone number constitutes a qualified right to use the number in
accordance with the Telecommunications Act and these allocation rules.
4. Criteria for the eligibility of applicants
Users who intend to charge a telecommunications carrier with the activation of a
freephone number are eligible to apply. Users can charge the carrier with such
activation direct or through a service provider.
3. 5. Application procedure
5.1 Submission of applications
Applications for the allocation of a freephone number should be submitted to the:
Regulierungsbehörde für Telekommunikation und Post
Nummernverwaltung
Postfach 80 01
55003 Mainz
Federal Republic of Germany
or
Canisiusstr. 21
55122 Mainz
Federal Republic of Germany.
Applications should be made using the prescribed application form (Annex 1).
Applications can also be sent by fax (+49 6131 18-5630).
Applications can be delivered by hand to the RegTP's section responsible for
numbering administration on working days between 0730 and 1600 hours on Mondays
to Thursdays and between 0730 and 1500 hours on Fridays.
Applications for allocations may be made no earlier than 180 calendar days before the
planned effective date.
5.2 Processing of applications
Applications will be processed in order of receipt according to the time of receipt of the
complete application.
All applications received by 15 September 1997 will be treated equally.
The time of receipt for applications sent by mail is taken as 1200 hours. The time of
receipt for applications sent by fax is based on the local time stamp on the recipient's
fax. The time of receipt for hand-delivered applications is the actual time of receipt.
In the first place, allocations will be based on the applicants' first choice of number only.
If two or more applicants apply for the same number at the same time, priority will be
given to applicants intending to embed an existing subscriber number preceded by the
service code (0)130 and in service before 1 June 1997.
Embedding means adding leading and/or trailing filler digits (e.g. 1234 could become
xxx1234, xx1234x, x1234xx or 1234xxx; 123456 could become x123456 or 123456x).
If two or more applicants with equal priority apply for the same number at the same time,
the number will be allocated by drawing lots.
4. If applicants are not allocated their first choice of number because:
• at least one other applicant has priority over them,
• the number is allocated to another applicant by drawing lots, or
• the number is allocated to another applicant whose application was received earlier,
their second choice will be considered after the numbers requested as a first choice and
at the same time by at least one applicant have been allocated. This procedure will be
repeated down to the applicants' fifth choice.
The RegTP can specify the maximum quantity of numbers which can be allocated to one
applicant.
5.3 Time scale for handling applications
As a rule, numbers will be allocated within 7 calendar days from receipt of the
application.
5.4 Effective date of allocations
Allocations will become effective on the date specified in the allocation but not before
1 January 1998. The processing time remains unaffected.
6. Conditions
6.1 Use of numbers
a) Applicants must charge a telecommunications carrier with the activation of their
numbers within 90 calendar days from the effective date of their allocations.
b) Applicants must bring their numbers into service within 180 calendar days from the
effective date of their allocations. A number is deemed to be in service if an access
in the public telephone network can be reached by dialling the number.
c) Applicants may not transfer their numbers to third parties. Applicants may use an
allocated number for a particular customer within the framework of a service offering
provided the applicant charges a telecommunications carrier with the activation of the
number and hence remains the user within the meaning of Section 4 and
Section 6.1 a).
6.2 Provision of information
6.2.1 Use of numbers
5. Applicants must inform the RegTP of their request for the activation of the number within
14 days from the end of the period specified in 6.1 a). The prescribed form should be
used (Annex 2).
Note: Applicants are recommended to submit their forms to the RegTP in good time
before their numbers are brought into service. Late submission may mean that the
numbers will not be immediately accessible from other telecommunications carriers'
networks. The recommended deadline had not been set by the time these rules were
established.
6.2.2 Change of telecommunications carrier
Applicants must notify the RegTP if they transfer to another telecommunications carrier.
The RegTP must be notified of the date of transfer and the new carrier's name within 14
calendar days from the date of transfer.
Note: Applicants are recommended to notify the RegTP in good time before their
numbers are activated by their new telecommunications carriers. Late notification may
mean that the numbers will not be immediately accessible from other carriers' networks.
The recommended deadline had not been set by the time these rules were established.
6.2.3 Special information
Applicants must provide the RegTP with information on the use of their numbers upon
request.
6.3 Obligation to return numbers
Applicants must return numbers which they no longer require immediately. The periodic
use of numbers is permitted.
7. Changes to numbers
§ 43(4) of the Telecommunications Act sets forth the procedure for changes to numbers.
8. Withdrawal
The RegTP can withdraw numbers if the conditions specified in Section 6 are violated.
The RegTP will consult with the applicants before it makes withdrawals.
9. Reuse of recovered numbers
Numbers which have been returned, withdrawn or recovered following changes will be
reallocated by the RegTP as a rule after a minimum period of six months.
6. 10. Publications
The RegTP will provide the telecommunications carriers with an up-to-date list of all
allocated subscriber numbers indicating the date of allocation, the date or planned date
of activation, and the carrier. The list will also contain details of returned, changed and
withdrawn numbers.
11. Fees
The allocation of freephone numbers is subject to a fee charged according to an
ordinance having the force of law issued by virtue of § 43(3) of the Telecommunications
Act.
A special notice stipulating the fee will be issued.
Annexes: 1. Application form
2. Form for provision of information on number use
7. Annex 1
Application for the allocation of an (0)800 freephone number
I. Applicant details
_____________________________________________ ______________________
Name (company) Customer no. (if known)
________________________________________________________________________
Street
________________________________________________________________________
Postcode, town
________________________________________________________________________
Name of contact
_________________________ _______________ ___________________________
Telephone Fax e-mail (optional)
_________________________
Applicant's reference
_______________________________________________________
___
II. Application
We request any available number with no specific preference. (→ Section III)
We request a number of our choice. (→ a))
We request a number of our choice to embed an (0)130 number in service before
1 June 1997.
The (0)130 number to be embedded is: __ __ __ __ __ __
Choice of number/alternative numbers embedding an existing (0)130 number in order of
priority (→ a)):
a) 800 ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
b) 800 ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
c) 800 ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
d) 800 ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
e) 800 ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
Would you like any number to be allocated if none of the numbers specified above are
available?
Yes No
8. The planned effective date of the allocation is __ __________ ____ (not before
1 January 1998).
III. Use of number
Do you plan to use the requested number continuously? Yes No
If no, please specify the planned periods of use:
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
IV. Telecommunications carrier details
The following telecommunications carrier will be charged with the activation
of the number:
Name (company)
Street
Postcode, town
Name of contact (optional)
________________________ _____________ _______________________
Telephone (optional) Fax (optional) e-mail (optional)
It is not yet certain which telecommunications carrier will be charged with the
activation of the number.
.......................................................................................................................................Place
Date Applicant/authorised signatory
Note in accordance with §§ 13 and 14 of the Federal Data Protection Act
The data gathered will be stored to process your application. The data may need to be processed automatically
and communicated to the financial institution responsible for collecting payments (the Bundeskasse).
9.
10. Annex 2
__________________________________________________________________________
Name (company)
__________________________________________________________________________
Street
__________________________________________________________________________
Postcode, town
__________________________________________________________________________
Name of contact
_________________________ _______________ _____________________________
Telephone Fax e-mail (optional)
Regulierungsbehörde für Telekommunikation und Post
Postfach 80 01
55003 Mainz
Federal Republic of Germany
Provision of information according to Section 6.2.1 of the "Provisional rules for the
allocation of numbers for freephone services"
Dear Sirs,
On __ __________ 199_ we charged the following telecommunications carrier with the
activation of the number
800_______________
allocated to us and effective as of/from __ __________ 199_:
_____________________________________________________________
Name (company)
_____________________________________________________________
Street
_____________________________________________________________
Postcode, town
_____________________________________________________________
Name of contact (optional)
_____________________________________________________________
Telephone Fax
The number has been/will be in service since/as from __ __________ ____ according to
our request. A copy of the confirmation from the telecommunications carrier is enclosed.
...........................................................................................................................................
Place Date Applicant/authorised signatory
Enclosure: Confirmation from telecommunications carrier