Press Release

Relief for Northern Michigan's 810 Overlay Area Code Suspended

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 7, 2000) In light of questions raised by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regarding the authority of the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA) and the Michigan telecommunications industry to implement relief for the 810 area code, the recommended overlay plan has been temporarily suspended, according to NeuStar, Inc., which serves as the NANPA.

Predicted to exhaust by 4th quarter 2000, the 810 area code covers the northern portion of Michigan and includes such communities as Brighton, Benton, Center Line, Davison, Eastpointe, Fenton, Flint, Flushing, Grand Blanc, Lapeer, Marysville, Mount Clemons, New Baltimore, Port Huron, Roseville, Saint Clair, Sterling Heights, and Warren. In the overlay plan, the recommended 586 overlay area code would serve the same geographic area as the 810 area code and was set to be implemented on May 6 of this year.

With this recent decision, NANPA will not assign any three-digit prefixes or exchanges from the 586 area code, pending further direction by the FCC.

According to Ron Conners, Director of NANPA, his organization will request FCC approval of the industry's recommended overlay relief plan for the 810 area code. Conners said the NANPA expects that the FCC will release a public notice requesting comment from interested persons on the industry's plan before a ruling is made.

NANPA and the telecommunications industry met on May 18, 1999 to discuss relief alternatives for Michigan's 810 calling area. The industry reached consensus to recommend to the Michigan Public Service Commission (PSC) a single overlay plan as the means of relief for the 810 area code. Michigan PSC staff informed NANPA and the industry that they would not act on the plan, explaining that the Commission lacked authority to get involved in area code relief.

Following standard procedures used in previous relief activities, NANPA subsequently assigned the 586 area code as relief for the 810 area code and notified the industry.

NeuStar, selected by the FCC in 1997 to serve as NANPA, coordinates area code relief activities throughout the United States. NANPA also oversees the assignment of area codes, three-digit central office codes, carrier identification codes, and other numbering resources throughout the United States, Canada, Bermuda and 16 Caribbean countries.

For media inquiries, please contact Bill Stern, spokesman for the North American Numbering Plan Administration, at 202-533-2648.