==Phrack Inc.== Volume Two, Issue 24, File 8 of 13 /^\ /^\ /^\ /^\ /^\ /^\ /^\ /^\ /^\ /^\ /^\ /^\ /^\ /^\ /^\ Special Area Codes /^\ /^\ /^\ /^\ by >Unknown User< /^\ /^\ /^\ /^\ January 3, 1989 /^\ /^\ /^\ /^\ /^\ /^\ /^\ /^\ /^\ /^\ /^\ /^\ /^\ /^\ /^\ Greetings! I have compiled information about the SACs for your edification; these include 700, 800, and 900. Most telephone users from the United States are quite familiar with 800 service: A number that they dial and incur NO charge (not even message units in most areas). Then there is 900 service, which is what most people perceive as 'value added,' i.e. you pay more for the information than for the transport of the call. These vary typically from 35 cents to a few dollars for either a timed service, or a 'as long as you like' duration-sensitive service. There are two sub-species of 900 service: AT&T and "everybody else." Finally, there is 700 service, which many people remember as Alliance Teleconferencing. This is the third "canonical" SAC. With few limitations, this SAC is given over to the IEC entirely. Let's look at these in more detail. 800 Service ~~~~~~~~~~~ 800 service is offered by various IECs. Each NXX in the 800 SAC is assigned to a given carrier, who is responsible for assigning numbers from that block to customers, and providing 10 digit translation. The carrier must have Feature Group D presence for originating calls from the originating exchange (either direct, or through an access tandem). In the future, when CCIS becomes wide-spread, a query will be made in the database [Who gets 1-800-985-1234?] and the call will be routed appropriately. To clarify: Now the carrier is determined by the NNX. In the future, the carrier will be determined by the entire 7 digits. A similar situation exists with 900 service. Each carrier can reserve NXXs from BellCore (the people who among a zillion other tasks are in charge of handing out prefixes and area codes). They're not cheap! To get the actual number is free (there are qualifications that I don't deal with), but to get it 'turned on' in a LATA costs you money, depending on: (1) How many prefixes you're getting, (2) Whether it's 800 or 900 service; and, (3) How many Tandems/End Offices are in the LATA. It requires a discrete amount of labor for EACH office, because EACH routing table must be modified. However, I will be discussing 900 Service in more detail later in this file. When you, as Joe Customer, dial 1-800-222-1234 (made up number, please don't bother them) it will initiate the following sequence: 1. If you are in an Electronic Office (DMS-100, DMS-200, 1A ESS, 5 ESS) the 800-222 will be translated to "AT&T" and will search for an opening in a trunk group marked for 800 origination. Should none be found, bump to step 3. 2. If you are in a non-electronic office (SxS, XB, and some flavors of ESS), it will go to the access tandem that your office 'homes' on, where 800-222 will be translated to "AT&T." Note: If at this point, the number doesn't have a translation, you will get a "lose" recording from the CO. 3. Find a trunk in a trunk group marked for 800 origination. Should none be found, give the customer a recording "Due to network congestion, your 800 call could not be completed" or die, or whatever. (Depends on phase of moon, etc.) 4. The end office will the send the following pulse-stream (in MF): KP + II + 3/10D + ST + KP + 800 222 1234 + ST Note: This is a simplification; there are some fine points of ANI spills that are beyond the scope of this file. II = 2 information digits. Typical values are: 00 normal ANI .. 10 digits follow 01 ONI line ... NPA follows 02 ANI failure ... NPA follows 3/10D = 3 or 10 digits. Either the NPA, or the entire 10 digit number. KP and ST are control tones. 5. The carrier receives all of this (and probably throws the ANI into the bit bucket) and translates the 800 number to what's called a PTN, or Plant Test Number (for example, 617-555-9111). Then, the call is routed AS IF the customer had dialed that 10 digit number. Of course, the billing data is marked as an 800 call, so the subscriber receiving the call pays the appropriate amount. Of the 800 possible NXXs, 409 are currently assigned. A long-distance carrier can get one 800 and four 900 numbers just for the paperwork. But to get more than that, you have to show that you're 70% full now, and demonstrate a real need for the capacity. I have included the entire 800-NXX to long-distance carrier translation table. Note that not every NXX is valid in every area. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Revised 800/OCN Translation Table Effective October 10, 1988 221 ATX 222 ATX 223 ATX 224 LDL 225 ATX 226 MIC 227 ATX 228 ATX 229 TDX 230 NTK 231 ATX 232 ATX 233 ATX 234 MCI 235 ATX 236 SCH 237 ATX 238 ATX 239 DLT 240 SIR 241 ATX 242 ATX 243 ATX 244 --- 245 ATX 246 --- 247 ATX 248 ATX 249 --- 250 --- 251 ATX 252 ATX 253 ATX 254 TTU 255 ATX 256 LSI 257 ATX 258 ATX 259 --- 260 --- 261 SCH 262 ATX 263 CAN 264 ICT 265 CAN 266 CSY 267 CAN 268 CAN 269 FDG 270 --- 271 --- 272 ATX 273 --- 274 MCI 275 ITT 276 ONE 277 SNT 278 --- 279 MAL 280 ADG 281 --- 282 ATX 283 MCI 284 MCI 285 --- 286 --- 287 --- 288 MCI 289 MCI 290 --- 291 --- 292 ATX 293 PRO 294 --- 295 --- 296 --- 297 ARE 298 --- 299 CYT 321 ATX 322 ATX 323 ATX 324 HNI 325 ATX 326 UTC 327 ATX 328 ATX 329 TET 330 TET 331 ATX 332 ATX 333 MCI 334 ATX 335 SCH 336 ATX 337 FST 338 ATX 339 --- 340 --- 341 ATX 342 ATX 343 ATX 344 ATX 345 ATX 346 ATX 347 UTC 348 ATX 349 DCT 350 CSY 351 ATX 352 ATX 353 --- 354 --- 355 --- 356 ATX 357 --- 358 ATX 359 UTC 360 --- 361 CAN 362 ATX 363 CAN 364 HNI 365 MCI 366 UTC 367 ATX 368 ATX 369 TDD 370 TDD 371 --- 372 ATX 373 TDD 374 --- 375 TNO 376 --- 377 GTS 378 --- 379 --- 380 --- 381 --- 382 ATX 383 TDD 384 FDT 385 CAB 386 TBQ 387 CAN 388 --- 389 --- 390 --- 391 --- 392 ATX 393 EXF 394 --- 395 --- 396 --- 397 TDD 398 --- 399 ARZ 421 ATX 422 ATX 423 ATX 424 ATX 425 TTH 426 ATX 427 --- 428 ATX 429 --- 430 --- 431 ATX 432 ATX 433 ATX 434 AGN 435 ATX 436 IDN 437 ATX 438 ATX 439 --- 440 TXN 441 ATX 442 ATX 443 ATX 444 MCI 445 ATX 446 ATX 447 ATX 448 ATX 449 --- 450 USL 451 ATX 452 ATX 453 ATX 454 ALN 455 --- 456 MCI 457 ATX 458 ATX 459 --- 460 --- 461 CAN 462 ATX 463 CAN 464 --- 465 CAN 466 ALN 467 ICT 468 ATX 469 --- 470 --- 471 ALN 472 ATX 473 --- 474 --- 475 TDD 476 TDD 477 --- 478 AAM 479 --- 480 --- 481 --- 482 ATX 483 --- 484 TDD 485 TDD 486 TDX 487 --- 488 --- 489 TOM 490 --- 491 --- 492 ATX 493 --- 494 --- 495 --- 496 --- 497 --- 498 --- 499 --- 521 ATX 522 ATX 523 ATX 524 ATX 525 ATX 526 ATX 527 ATX 528 ATX 529 MIT 530 --- 531 ATX 532 ATX 533 ATX 534 --- 535 ATX 536 ALN 537 ATX 538 ATX 539 --- 540 --- 541 ATX 542 ATX 543 ATX 544 ATX 545 ATX 546 UTC 547 ATX 548 ATX 549 --- 550 CMA 551 ATX 552 ATX 553 ATX 554 ATX 555 ATX 556 ATX 557 ALN 558 ATX 559 --- 560 --- 561 CAN 562 ATX 563 CAN 564 --- 565 CAN 566 ALN 567 CAN 568 --- 569 --- 570 --- 571 --- 572 ATX 573 --- 574 AMM 575 --- 576 --- 577 GTS 578 --- 579 LNS 580 WES 581 --- 582 ATX 583 TDD 584 TDD 585 --- 586 ATC 587 LTQ 588 ATC 589 LGT 590 --- 591 --- 592 ATX 593 TDD 594 TDD 595 --- 596 --- 597 --- 598 --- 599 --- 621 ATX 622 ATX 623 --- 624 ATX 625 NLD 626 ATX 627 MCI 628 ATX 629 --- 630 --- 631 ATX 632 ATX 633 ATX 634 ATX 635 ATX 636 CQU 637 ATX 638 ATX 639 BUR 640 --- 641 ATX 642 ATX 643 ATX 644 CMA 645 ATX 646 --- 647 ATX 648 ATX 649 --- 650 --- 651 --- 652 ATX 653 --- 654 ATX 655 --- 656 --- 657 TDD 658 TDD 659 --- 660 --- 661 CAN 662 ATX 663 CAN 664 UTC 665 CAN 666 MCI 667 CAN 668 CAN 669 UTC 670 --- 671 --- 672 ATX 673 TDD 674 TDD 675 --- 676 --- 677 --- 678 MCI 679 --- 680 --- 681 --- 682 ATX 683 MTD 684 --- 685 --- 686 LGT 687 NTS 688 --- 689 --- 690 --- 691 --- 692 ATX 693 --- 694 --- 695 --- 696 --- 697 --- 698 NYC 699 PLG 720 TGN 721 --- 722 ATX 723 --- 724 RTC 725 SAN 726 UTC 727 MCI 728 TDD 729 UTC 730 --- 731 --- 732 ATX 733 UTC 734 --- 735 UTC 736 UTC 737 MEC 738 MEC 739 --- 740 --- 741 MIC 742 ATX 743 EDS 744 --- 745 --- 746 --- 747 TDD 748 TDD 749 TDD 750 --- 751 --- 752 ATX 753 --- 754 TSH 755 --- 756 --- 757 TID 758 --- 759 MCI 760 --- 761 --- 762 ATX 763 --- 764 AAM 765 --- 766 --- 767 UTC 768 SNT 769 --- 770 GCN 771 SNT 772 ATX 773 CUX 774 --- 775 --- 776 UTC 777 MCI 778 UTC 779 TDD 780 TDD 781 --- 782 ATX 783 ALN 784 ALG 785 SNH 786 *1 787 --- 788 --- 789 TMU 790 --- 791 --- 792 ATX 793 --- 794 --- 795 --- 796 --- 797 TID 798 TDD 799 --- 821 ATX 822 ATX 823 THA 824 ATX 825 MCI 826 ATX 827 UTC 828 ATX 829 UTC 830 --- 831 ATX 832 ATX 833 ATX 834 --- 835 ATX 836 TDD 837 TDD 838 --- 839 VST 840 --- 841 ATX 842 ATX 843 ATX 844 LDD 845 ATX 846 --- 847 ATX 848 ATX 849 --- 850 TKC 851 ATX 852 ATX 853 --- 854 ATX 855 ATX 856 --- 857 TLS 858 ATX 859 --- 860 --- 861 --- 862 ATX 863 ALN 864 TEN 865 --- 866 --- 867 --- 868 SNT 869 UTC 870 --- 871 --- 872 ATX 873 MCI 874 ATX 875 ALN 876 MCI 877 UTC 878 ALN 879 --- 880 NAS 881 NAS 882 ATX 883 --- 884 --- 885 ATX 886 ALN 887 ETS 888 MCI 889 --- 890 --- 891 --- 892 ATX 893 --- 894 --- 895 --- 896 TXN 897 --- 898 CGI 899 TDX 921 --- 922 ATX 923 ALN 924 --- 925 --- 926 --- 927 --- 928 CIS 929 --- 930 --- 931 --- 932 ATX 933 --- 934 --- 935 --- 936 RBW 937 MCI 938 --- 939 --- 940 TSF 941 --- 942 ATX 943 --- 944 --- 945 --- 946 --- 947 --- 948 --- 949 --- 950 MCI 951 BML 952 ATX 953 --- 954 --- 955 MCI 956 --- 957 --- 958 *2 959 *2 960 CNO 961 --- 962 ATX 963 SOC 964 --- 965 --- 966 TDX 967 --- 968 TED 969 TDX 970 --- 971 --- 972 ATX 973 --- 974 --- 975 --- 976 --- 977 --- 978 --- 979 --- 980 --- 981 --- 982 ATX 983 WUT 984 --- 985 --- 986 WUT 987 --- 988 WUT 989 TDX 990 --- 991 --- 992 ATX 993 --- 994 --- 995 --- 996 VOA 997 --- 998 --- 999 MCI Notes ~~~~~ *1 -- Released For Future Assignment *2 -- These NXX codes are generally reserved for test applications; They may be reserved for Access Tandem testing from an End Office. Note also: The following NXXs are dedicated for RCCP (Radio Common Carrier Paging) under the discretion of the local exchange carrier: 202, 212, 302, 312, 402, 412, 502, 512, 602, 612, 702, 712, 802, 812, 902, and 912. OCN Reference List ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ADG - Advantage Network, Inc. AGN - AMRIGON ALG - Allnet Communication Services AMM - Access Long Distance AAM - ALASCOM ARE - American Express TRS ARZ - AmeriCall Corporation (Calif.) ATC - Action Telecom Co. ATX - AT&T BML - Phone America BUR - Burlington Tel. CAB - Hedges Communications CAN - Telcom Canada CNO - COMTEL of New Orleans CQU - ConQuest Comm. Corp CSY - COM Systems CUX - Compu-Tel Inc. CYT - ClayDesta Communications DCT - Direct Communications, Inc. DLT - Delta Communications, Inc. EDS - Electronic Data Systems Corp. ETS - Eastern Telephone Systems, Inc. EXF - Execulines of Florida, Inc. FDG - First Digital Network FDN - Florida Digital Network FDT - Friend Technologies FST - First Data Resources GCN - General Communications, Inc. GTS - Telenet Comm. Corp. HNI - Houston Network, Inc. ITT - United States Transmission System LDD - LDDS-II, Inc. LDL - Long Distance for Less LGT - LITEL LNS - Lintel Systems LSI - Long Distance Savers LTQ - Long Distance for Less MAL - MIDAMERICAN MCI - MCI Telecommunications Corp. MDE - Meade Associates MEC - Mercury, Inc. MIC - Microtel, Inc. MIT - Midco Communications MTD - Metromedia Long Distance NLD - National Data Corp. NTK - Network Telemanagement Svcs. NTS - NTS Communications ONC - OMNICALL, Inc. ONE - One Call Communications, Inc. PHE - Phone Mail, Inc. PLG - Pilgrim Telephone Co. PRO - PROTO-COL RBW - R-Comm RTC - RCI Corporation SAN - Satelco SCH - Schneider Communications SDY - TELVUE Corp. SIR - Southern Interexchange Services SLS - Southland Systems, Inc. SNH - Sunshine Telephone Co. SNT - SouthernNet, Inc. SOC - State of California TBQ - Telecable Corp. TDD - Teleconnect TDX - Cable & Wireless Comm. TED - TeleDial America TEM - Telesystems, Inc. TEN - Telesphere Network, Inc. TET - Teltec Savings Communications Co TGN - Telemanagement Consult't Corp. THA - Touch America TID - TMC South Central Indiana TKC - TK Communications, Inc. TLS - TELE-SAV TMU - Tel-America, Inc. TNO - ATC Cignal Communications TOM - TMC of Montgomery TOR - TMC of Orlando TSF - SOUTH-TEL TSH - Tel-Share TTH - Tele Tech, Inc. TTU - Total-Tel USA TXN - Tex-Net USL - U.S. Link Long Distance UTC - U.S. Telcom, Inc. (U.S. Sprint) VOA - Valu-Line VST - STAR-LINE WES - Westel WUT - Western Union Telegraph Co. NOTE: Where local telcos, such as Illinois Bell, offer 800 service, they purchase blocks of numbers from AT&T on prefixes assigned to AT&T. They are free to purchase blocks of numbers from any carrier of their choice however. This list also applies to the 900/OCN Translation Table (presented later in this file). 900 Service ~~~~~~~~~~~ As I mentioned earlier there are two flavors of 900 service, AT&T and "everybody else." Everybody else is handled exactly as the 800 service above, except the IEC will probably use the ANI information to send you a bill (either directly, or through your BOC, each situation governed by applicable tariffs and contractual arrangements between the IEC and the BOC). AT&T 900 is a curious monster indeed. It was designed as a "mass termination" service. When you dial a 900 by AT&T (such as the "hear space shuttle mission audio" number) you get routed to one of twelve "nodes" strewn throughout the country. These nodes are each capable of terminating 9,000 calls >PER SECOND<. There are several options available where the customer and/or the IP pay for all/part of the call. The big difference between 800 and AT&T 900 is >NOT< "who pays for the call" (there are free 900 numbers), but "how many people can it handle at once." The IP is responsible for providing program audio. AT&T is prohibited from providing audio-program services (i.e. tape recorded messages). As with any rule, there are exceptions to these as well. I have included the entire 900-NXX to long-distance carrier translation table. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Revised 900/OCN Translation Table Effective October 10, 1988 Please note that this differs from the 800 table, because much fewer of the 900 NXXs are assigned. NXX OCN NXX OCN NXX OCN NXX OCN NXX OCN 200 ATX 202 Ameritech 210 ATX 220 ATX 221 TDX 222 ONC 223 TDX 225 Pac. Bell 226 MCI 233 TDX 234 TEN 240 U.S. West 248 Ameritech 250 ATX 258 TEN 254 TTU 255 SNT 260 ATX 264 ADG 266 CSY 272 Bell Atl. 273 CAN 275 ITT 280 Ameritech 282 LGT 283 Pac. Bell 288 GTE N.west 297 CAN 300 ATX 301 Ameritech 302 Ameritech 303 Pac. Bell 321 TEN 322 TDX 327 ETS 328 ATX 331 TET 332 PLG 333 U.S. West 335 Bell Atl. 342 ATX 344 ATX 345 ALN 346 United Tel. 350 ATX 364 GTE N.West 366 ONC 369 TEN 370 ATX 377 GTS 386 United Tel. 388 SNT 399 ARZ 400 ATX 407 ATX 410 ATX 420 ATX 422 ALN 426 PLG 428 Ameritech 430 U.S. West 444 ONC 445 PHE 446 MCI 450 Ameritech 451 CAN 456 TEN 463 United Tel. 478 AAM 479 ARZ 480 ATX 483 GTE Midwest 488 ONC 490 U.S. West 500 ATX 505 Pac. Bell 520 ATX 529 MIT 536 BUR 540 ALN 543 ALN 545 GTE Calif. 550 ALN 555 ATX 567 ALN 580 U.S. West 590 ATX 595 CAN 600 ATX 620 Ameritech 624 Pac. Bell 626 CSY 628 Ameritech 630 CAN 633 MIT 639 PLG 643 CAN 645 CAN 650 ATX 654 TEN 656 SNT 660 ATX 661 United Tel. 663 MDE 665 ALN 666 ONC 670 CAN 677 CAN 678 MCI 680 ATX 686 LTG 690 CAN 698 NY Tel. 699 PLG 701 Bell Atl. 710 TGN 720 ATX 722 Pac. Bell 724 RTC 725 SNT 727 GTE Calif. 730 ATX 739 CSY 740 ATX 741 TEN 746 ITT 750 CAN 753 ALN 765 ALN 773 ATX 777 Pac. Bell 778 Ameritech 780 Ameritech 786 ATX 790 CAN 792 CAN 801 Bell Atl. 820 ATX 830 CAN 843 Pac. Bell 844 Pac. Bell 847 United Tel. 850 ATX 860 ATX 866 AAM 870 CAN 872 TEN 887 ETS 888 CIS 900 TDX 901 Bell Atl. 903 ATX 909 ATX 924 Ameritech 932 ATX 948 ARZ 949 MIC 963 TEN 970 MIC 971 MIC 972 MIC 973 MIC 974 ALN 975 ALN 976 ATX 988 MCI 990 MCI 991 ALG 993 SNT 999 TEN 700 Service ~~~~~~~~~~~ The last SAC we'll deal with is 700. I've seen ads on late-night television for Group Access Bridging service (GAB) under 700 numbers, with an elephantine dialing sequence. The one that comes to mind is 10041-1-700-777-7777. If you were to dial 1-700-555-4141 you will hear a recording announcing your Equal-Access carrier. (Some carriers ignore the last four digits, and any 700-555 number will give the announcement). This is signalled the same as 800 service, and may or may not be billed ENTIRELY at the discretion of the IEC. In New York, under PSC tariff, you can order 900 and/or 700 blocking as well as 976, 970, 550, and 540 blocking in various combinations. What in ONE carrier might be a customer service hotline (Dial 1-700-I AM LOST) might for another be a revenue product. There is LITTLE standardization of 700 usage from IEC to IEC. The one last dialing pattern that is worth mentioning is what's called, "cut through dialing." Try dialing 10220. If Western Union comes to your town, you'll get a FG-A style dial tone. Presumably if you had a Western Union "Calling Card" you could dial a call. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Glossary ~~~~~~~~ ANI - Automatic Number Identification. An MF sequence that identifies your line for toll billing information. Often confused with ANAC (Automatic Number Announcement Circuit) which reads your number back in a synthesized voice. BOC - Bell Operating Company. An often misused term that in general usage means, "Your local exchange carrier." Since most of the telephones in the country are served by what used to be the Bell system, we tend to use the term. The proper term in this case, however IS "Exchange Carrier [EC]" They provide service within your LATA. FG-A - Feature Group A. Line Side termination for Long Distance carriers. The old 555-1234 for Widget Telephone Company then dial an access code and the number style dialing is called FG-A. FG-B - Feature Group B. Trunk Side termination for Long Distance carriers. (aka ENFIA B). 950 service. This is LATA wide service, and doesn't cost the customer message units. ANI is only provided when the trunks terminate in the End Office (as opposed to an access tandem). FG-D - Feature Group D. Trunk Side termination. Provides 10xxx dialing, 1+ pre-subscription dialing, and Equal Access 800/900 service. Only available in electronic offices and some 5XB offices (through a beastie called an Adjunct Frame.) GAB - Group Audio Bridging. Where several people call the same number, to talk to other people calling the same number. "Party" or "Chat" lines. IEC - Inter-Exchange Carrier. Someone who actually carries calls from place to place. AT&T, Sprint, MCI are all IECs. IP - Information Provider. Someone who sells a value-added service over the telephone. Where you pay for the INFORMATION you're receiving, as well as the cost of TRANSPORT of the call. NXX - Notation convention for what used to be called a "prefix". N represents the digits 2 through 9, and X represents the digits 0 through 9. There are 800 valid NXX combinations, but some are reserved for local use. (411 for Directory, 611 for Repair Bureau, 911 for emergency, etc.) ONI - Operator Number Identification. In areas with some styles of party-line service, the CO cannot tell who you are, and the operator will come on and say, "What number are you calling from?". You can lie, they have to trust you. They MAY know which PREFIX you're coming from, though. PTN - Plant Test Number. A regular 10 digit number assigned with your inward WATS line. This may NOT be a 'dialable' number from the local CO. (A friend has a WATS line in Amherst, MA [413-549, dial the PTN locally, but you can if you come in on a toll trunk.) SAC - Special Area Code. Bellcore speak for area codes that aren't really places, but classes of service. _______________________________________________________________________________