California's First Donut-Shaped Area Code Split
Tad Cook
And the New Number is ... 323; Geographic Split Approved For 213 Area
Code In Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 5, 1997--California's first
donut-shaped geographic area code split was approved today by the
state Public Utilities Commission to provide relief for the 213 area
code in Los Angeles. The split will create a new area code -- 323 --
to serve part of the region beginning next year.
Introduction of the new 323 area code, which will be California's
21st, is planned for June 13, 1998, and is needed to meet the rapidly
growing demand for additional phone numbers in the 213 area
code. Among the communities currently served all or in part by the 213
area code are: Bell, Belvedere Gardens, Commerce, Cudahy, Eagle Rock,
East Los Angeles, Highland Park, Hollywood, Huntington Park, Laurel
Canyon, Los Angeles, Maywood, Montebello, Monterey Park, South Gate,
Vernon, Watts and West Hollywood. New Area Code Boundaries
Under the 213 area code split, a three-mile diameter region in
downtown Los Angeles will keep the 213 area code. All other existing
213 area code customers will receive the new 323 area code. The split
will have a donut shape, with the downtown Los Angeles business
district located in the center of the donut.
`While the donut shape does not conform to the traditional east-west
or north-south splitting of NPA (area code) boundaries, it is the only
way to achieve an equal division of the 213 NPA into two parts without
splitting downtown Los Angeles,` the California Public Utilities
Commission wrote in its order approving the geographic split plan.
California Code Administrator Bruce Bennett, who oversees area code
relief planning statewide for the telecommunications industry, said
two options for adding an area code in the 213 were submitted to the
Commission in November 1996 following public comment in July
1996. `Because the industry could not reach consensus on one plan, two
ultimately approved and an overlay proposal,` Bennett said. In an
overlay, a new area code is placed over the existing area code, with
both codes sharing the same geographic boundaries. The new area code
is generally given to people who request new phone numbers, while
existing customers keep the old area code.
The Commission issued a policy decision in late December precluding
the use of overlays in California for area code relief projects
through the year 2000. The Commission said several issues related to
competition need to be resolved before overlays may be used. Last
month, Pacific Bell asked the Commission to reconsider its area code
policy ruling to allow an overlay in the 213 area code. Area Code
Portion of Phone Number Impacted, But Not Call Price
Bennett said the new area code's introduction will not affect
customer's seven-digit phone numbers. However, customers in the new
323 area code will need to change the area code portion of their phone
number beginning June, 13, 1998.
The introduction of the new area code will have no impact on the price
of telephone calls, Bennett added. `Call distance determines call
price. What is a local call today will remain a local call regardless
of the area code change.`
The new 323 area code is estimated to last 11 to 13 years, while the
reconfigured 213 area code will have enough numbers to accommodate
growth for 5 1/2 to 7 years.
Bennett said the new area code is needed to meet the skyrocketing
demand for new phone numbers in the Los Angeles area and across the
state. `Californians are continuing to use telephone numbers at record
rates,` he said. `California has 14 area codes and will need to grow
to 26 area codes by the year 2001 to keep pace with customer demand.`
In the greater Los Angeles region, 213 is one of four area codes that
have been split or that will split by the end of 1998. Last month, the
new 562 area code was split off from the 310 area code and now serves
southeastern Los Angeles County. The 818 area code in northern Los
Angeles County will split off the 626 area code later this year. And
in 1998, Orange County's 714 area code will also split off the 949
area code.
Bennett said when the new 323 area code is introduced in June 1998,
there will be a six-month `permissive` dialing period during which
callers can dial either the old or new area code. Things to Remember
Change stationery, notify friends and associates
Bennett said a new area code impacts consumers and businesses in many
ways. Among the things to remember:
-- Change stationery, business cards and advertising to reflect the
new area code
-- Notify friends, relatives, clients and customers of the change
-- Reprogram fax machines and auto-dialers
-- Customers with cellular phones and pagers should check with their
service provider to see if reprogramming is required.
Make Sure Equipment Can Accommodate The New Area Code
The new 323 area code is part of a series of new-style area codes
introduced in North America beginning in 1995 that can be any three
digits. This has special implications for certain types of
telecommunications equipment, which must be reprogrammed to recognize
the new-style area codes, Bennett said. `Historically, area codes
always had either a `1` or `0` as the middle digit for identification
purposes, but all of those codes are gone. The new number combinations
allow area codes to be any three digits from 220 to 999, creating an
additional 5 billion phone numbers.
`Because of this, it's important for customers to know that PBX
(private phone) systems, auto-dialers, alarms and other
telecommunications equipment will have to be re-programmed to
recognize these new-style area codes,` said Bennett, adding that
people should check with their equipment vendors to see if their
equipment needs to be reprogrammed. More Area Codes To Come Statewide
The 213 area is the latest in a series of regions in California
requiring area code relief due to growing demand. That demand is being
spurred by several factors, the two primary being the high-technology
explosion of fax machines, pagers, cellular phones, modems for
Internet access, and data communications networks like ATMs and pay
point services, all of which require phone lines. The other factor is
the onset of competition in California's local telephone service
market, with each new provider requiring a separate supply of
telephone numbers.
In addition to the 213 area code, California areas which have already
been designated as requiring new area codes are: 818 in the San
Gabriel and San Fernando Valley areas, 619 in the San Diego, Palm
Springs and Inland County areas, 415 in the San Francisco Bay area,
916 in Sacramento and Northern California, 510 in Contra Costa and
Alameda counties, 714 in Orange County, 408 covering the South Bay
Area Peninsula and Central Coast areas, 209 in the Stockton, Modesto
and Fresno areas and 805 serving the Ventura County, Santa Barbara
County and Bakersfield areas.
Plans for the 213 area code were collectively developed by a
telecommunications industry group representing more than 30 companies,
including Pacific Bell, AT&T, MCI, Sprint, AirTouch, GTE, Pagenet,
AT&T Wireless, MFS Communications Co., Teleport Communications Group
(TCG), the California Cable Television Association and others.
CONTACT: Pacific Bell
David A. Dickstein, 213/975-4074
http://www.pacbell.com
http://www.pactel.com
http://www.businesswire.com