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H. Con. Res. 175 104th Congress House

Telephone Number Ownership Act of 1996

Official title: Expressing the intention of the Congress with respect to the collection of fees or other payments from the allocation of toll-free telephone numbers.

Introduced: May 10, 1996 See on congress.gov
Government Operations and Politics AuctionsCommerceCongressCongressional reporting requirements
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Consumer protectionCrime and Law EnforcementDeceptive advertisingFraudIndependent regulatory commissionsLegislationScience, Technology, CommunicationsTelephone
This resolution expired with the 104th Congress
It was not agreed to before the 104th Congress (1995–1996) adjourned, so it is no longer active. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
May 23, 1996
Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance.
May 10, 1996
Referred to the House Committee on Commerce.
May 10, 1996
Introduced in House
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 Latest action May 23, 1996

Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Telephone Number Ownership Act of 1996 - Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the Federal Communications Commission lacks legal authority to conduct auctions or other revenue raising activities in connection with the allocation of any telephone number within the North American Numbering Plan; and (2) if the Congress is to authorize such activities, procedures will be required to protect any value attaching to new toll-free numbers by reason of a private business investment in the advertisement or public awareness of the corresponding 800 number by measures designed to prevent speculation, hoarding, and other gaming of the allocation system, and to protect consumers from fraud and confusion by preventing the misrepresentation of established toll-free numbers. Calls for the Commission to submit a plan for the allocation of toll-free 888 numbers that contains such procedures, together with its recommendations for legislative authorization of such allocation.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H. Con. Res. 175: Telephone Number Ownership Act of 1996. 104th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HCONRES-175/
MLA
"H. Con. Res. 175: Telephone Number Ownership Act of 1996." 104th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HCONRES-175/.
Bluebook (legal)
H. Con. Res. 175, 104th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HCONRES-175/.
Markdown link
[H. Con. Res. 175: Telephone Number Ownership Act of 1996](https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HCONRES-175/)
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