FACT SHEET
ADVERTISING & MARKETING OF DIAL-AROUND
AND OTHER LONG DISTANCE SERVICES
On November 4, 1999, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Federal
Trade Commission (FTC) convened a joint public forum to address the advertising
and marketing of long distance services, including dial-around services -- often called
"10-10" numbers.
The joint forum provided an opportunity for government, industry, and consumer
groups to discuss recent trends in how long-distance services are advertised and what
principles should guide industry advertising.
The FCC also announced at the joint forum the Market›Sense web site
(www.fcc.gov/marketsense) to help consumers make sense of the long distance
marketplace. The web site includes the "Top Ten Telecom Tips" for consumers, a
primer on how to shop for long distance service.
Number of marketing/advertising-related complaints the FCC has received between:
January 1, 1999 - June 30, 1999: 989
January 1, 1998 - June 30, 1999: 2919
20% of U.S. households have used a dial-around service in the past year.
The dial-around service market represents 7.5% of the long distance market.