Timeframe Policy
The process for applying for status as a Responsible Organization (Resp Org) with access to the SMS/800, as set forth in the 800 Service Management System (SMS/800) Functions F.C.C. Tariff No. 1, includes multiple steps. New applicants must provide a variety of completed forms. The SMS/800 Help Desk will work with the applicant to complete the required forms as well as conducting a competency test to assure the applicants’ minimum necessary skill level. A copy of the 800 Service Management System (SMS/800) Functions F.C.C. Tariff No. 1 is located SMS/800 Documents menu.

While the many steps involved in completing the process of obtaining access to the SMS/800 may take several weeks to complete, the process cannot be allowed to continue without limit. Many functions, such as allocation of the SMS/800 resources, system capacity and performance planning, hardware configurations, etc. depend upon an accurate count of system users and their processing requirements.

Therefore, the application of any new Resp Org that has not completed the entire process and been assigned a production log-on identification within a timeframe of one (1) year from the date of the initial application inquiry, will be canceled as untimely. All forms associated with the application will be deleted.

If at any time the applicant chooses to initiate another request for access to the SMS/800, the applicant will be treated as a first-time request with no limitations imposed nor any steps in the process eliminated

Training Certification
The SMS/800 is intended to support a large number of knowledgeable users utilizing a variety of customer interfaces. In order to assure that all users of the SMS/800 receive the necessary and appropriate support in the handling of their day-to-day interactions with the SMS/800, it is essential that users possess the necessary minimal level of expertise. To assure that all users possess that minimal level of expertise, the 800 Service Management System (SMS/800) Functions F.C.C. Tariff No. 1 specifies that each individual Responsible Organization (Resp Org) entity must demonstrate that one or more of their employees have been adequately trained in the SMS/800 capabilities and features, including handling customer records, number administration and service provisioning.

The SMS/800 Help Desk has put procedures in place to support the provision of competency tests to new Resp Org applicants. The SMS/800 Help Desk administers competency tests as part of the existing process for adding new Resp Orgs to the SMS/800. The administration of these competency tests consumes a portion of the SMS/800 Help Desk's valuable, but limited, resources.

Based on the above facts:

Any entity, which fails the first competency test, will be required to wait at least one week before requesting that the test be repeated to allow the SMS/800 Help Desk to efficiently schedule its resources to accommodate the next test. Any entity which fails the competency test a second time will be required to wait another week before attempting to take the test a third time.

Any entity that fails three (3) competency tests will have its application for Resp Org access to the SMS/800 canceled. All of the paperwork associated with the Resp Org application will be deleted.

If, at some future date, the applicant decides to re-apply for access to the SMS/800, the application will be treated as a first-time application. A period of at least six (6) months must elapse between the time the applicant is notified that its application has been canceled and the time the applicant re-applies.

Questions regarding these policies may be referred to the SMS/800 Help Desk at 888-SMS-3300, Option 1.