What is a RespOrg?
A Responsible Organization (RespOrg) is a company certified to manage toll-free numbers within the SMS/800 TFN Registry — the central database that tells the entire North American telephone network how to route every toll-free call. RespOrgs have direct access to register, route, and manage toll-free telephone numbers on behalf of their customers.
When someone dials a toll-free number, the originating carrier queries the SMS/800 database to determine where to send the call. The routing instructions stored in that database are managed by the number's assigned RespOrg. This gives RespOrgs a unique level of control over how toll-free calls are handled — including the ability to set up multi-carrier routing, time-of-day rules, geographic routing, and failover strategies.
Not every VoIP or telecom provider is a RespOrg. Many providers resell toll-free service from upstream carriers without any direct access to the SMS/800 system, which limits their ability to control routing and respond to outages.
What is Somos?
Somos, Inc. is the FCC-appointed administrator responsible for managing the SMS/800 Toll-Free Number (TFN) Registry. This centralized database is the authoritative source for toll-free number assignments and routing information across North America. Every toll-free call in the United States and Canada ultimately depends on the data maintained in this system. Somos oversees the certification of RespOrgs, maintains the integrity of the TFN Registry, and ensures that toll-free number management follows FCC regulations.
SMS/800 TFN Registry
The central database that stores routing information for every toll-free number in North America. Only certified RespOrgs have direct access.
RespOrg Certification
Somos certifies and audits RespOrgs to ensure they meet the requirements for managing toll-free numbers responsibly and in compliance with FCC rules.
Number Allocation
New toll-free numbers across all prefixes (800, 888, 877, 866, 855, 844, 833) are allocated through Somos to certified RespOrgs.
Portability
When you port a toll-free number, the transfer happens through the Somos system between the releasing and receiving RespOrgs.
DIDLive is a Certified RespOrg (KVQ01)
DIDLive / Parwan Electronics Corporation holds its own Somos RespOrg certification with ID KVQ01. This means we have direct, unmediated access to the SMS/800 TFN Registry to acquire, reserve, route, and manage toll-free numbers on your behalf.
This is a significant advantage for our customers. Because we control the routing instructions for your toll-free numbers directly in the Somos database, we can:
Order New Numbers Instantly
Search available toll-free inventory across all prefixes and activate new numbers directly through Somos — no waiting on upstream carriers.
Port Numbers Seamlessly
As a RespOrg, we handle the Responsible Organization Change Authorization (ROCA) process directly, making toll-free ports faster and more reliable.
Multi-Carrier Failover
Configure routing templates in Somos that distribute toll-free calls across multiple underlying carriers — eliminating single points of failure.
Rapid Disaster Recovery
When a carrier has an outage, we reroute your toll-free traffic to an alternate carrier by updating the Somos database directly — restoring service in minutes.
No Lock-In
Your toll-free numbers belong to you. If you ever want to leave, we release your numbers to your new RespOrg — no hostage situations.
Advanced Routing
Set up time-of-day routing, geographic routing, percentage-based load balancing, and other sophisticated strategies at the network level.
Why This Matters to You
Many VoIP providers simply resell toll-free service from a larger carrier. In that model, the upstream carrier is the RespOrg and controls the routing — meaning your provider has limited ability to manage your numbers or respond quickly to outages. If you want to leave, the upstream carrier's RespOrg controls the release of your numbers.
With DIDLive as your RespOrg, you get a direct relationship with the entity that controls your toll-free number routing. This translates to better redundancy, faster issue resolution, easier portability, and a level of disaster recovery that reseller-model providers simply cannot match.
Get Toll-Free Service from a Real RespOrg
DIDLive (KVQ01) gives you direct access to the Somos TFN Registry for maximum control over your toll-free numbers.
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