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H.Con.Res.175 / 104th Congress

Telephone Number Ownership Act of 1996

Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · May 10, 1996

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.

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Who introduced it

Rep. Frisa, Dan [R-NY-4] · R–NY

Committees

  • Energy and Commerce Committee
18 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

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  1. Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance.

  2. Referred to the House Committee on Commerce.

  3. Introduced in House

  4. Introduced in House

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Aug 21, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.Con.Res.175 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.Con.Res.175 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.Con.Res.175 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

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Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.Con.Res.175 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

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