The Industry Numbering Committee (over the objections of both MCI and AT&T) has voted to reclaim '555' numbers issued but not yet placed into service, despite the fact that only 2 RBOCs (Bell Atlantic [OTE 6/99: Makin' It Easy] and U.S.West) offer '555' service to information providers. A final vote is scheduled in Nashville, TN (Loew's Vanderbilt Hotel) on April 10, 2000. If you have been assigned a '555' number, you must act quickly. You can easily meet the first requirement (service must operate within 12 months) by calling the new Bell Atlantic Product Manager Jerry Caruthers at (215) 466-7071. The second requirement, (populate 30% of all NPAs within 18 months) is impossible, and therefore subject to reasonable dispute at the meeting.

The non-profit Privacy & American Business has published a report based upon in-depth interviews with 1,011 adults by the Opinion Research Corporation. The data was used to tabulate consumer preferences on a variety of issues. Between 51% and 68% of Net users - representing 47 to 63 million Net users - feel comfortable with their personal information being used to tailor banner ads to their interests.. The report ($25) contains information on preferences and purchases not readily available elsewhere

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That's the dichotomy causing so little action in resolving issues related to collection for 'casual' information or telecommunications purchases. The FCC fined MCI for 'misleading' information in their 'dial-around' ads, (Washington Post 3/1/00, p.E1) while refusing to act on MCI's three year old petition (OTE OTE 3/00: FCC To Approve Caller Pays) to take action related to billing for dial-around purchases. That's a bit like the FDA allowing benzine-laden cola to reach grocery shelves, but the FTC removing it for violating unit pricing standards. MCI is currently blocking 'dial-around' calls from customers of over 400 competitive local exchange carriers because they aren't receiving information adequate to tender a bill. In other words, government is more concerned about consumers understanding their choices, than having any. The reasons the big companies aren't squealing is that they all sincerely believe they will prevail in 'owning the customer' and won't need casual billing. MCI's Chairman, Bernard Ebbers is "1,000%" sure that "if you are not all distance in this business, you won't go the distance." (Infoworld, 1/31/00 p. 50A) Both AT&T and AOL have announced similar 'bundling' strategies. What makes this strategy so flawed, in the long term, is the inevitability of disintermediation. 
(See page 2)

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