Press Release

Relief Alternative Delayed for 619 Area Code
New 935 Area Code - Split in East San Diego County -Temporarily Suspended

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 10, 2000) - The implementation of the new 935 area code, assigned to the 619 calling area of eastern San Diego County, has been delayed by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), according to NeuStar, Inc., which serves as the North American Numbering Plan Administration (NANPA).

Following the recent introduction of the 858 area code, this was to be the second phase of the 619 three-way split plan that calls for another two-way geographic split of the 619 calling area.

The three-way split plan was approved by the CPUC on June 4, 1998. The approved boundaries split the existing 619 region into three portions: northern, central and eastern. The 619 area code would be retained in the central portion. The northern portion received the 858 area code and the eastern portion was scheduled to receive the new 935 area code on June 10, 2000.

The new 858 area code encompasses the northern portion of the three-way split and includes Rancho Sante Fe, Solano Beach, Del Mar, La Jolla, Poway and the northern portion of the City of San Diego.

The central portion, which retains the 619 area code, includes the downtown areas of San Diego and small parts of Lemon Grove and National City. The eastern portion - identified to receive the new 935 area code - includes Coronado, La Mesa, Chula Vista, Lakeside, El Cajon, Alpine, Pine Valley, Campo, Jacumba, Imperial Beach, Santee, the majority of both Lemon Grove, National City and the southern portion of the City of San Diego. These areas will continue to be in the 619 area code until the CPUC makes a decision to implement area code relief.

On May 4, 2000, the CPUC temporarily suspended the implementation of the new 935 area code split while it awaits the results of telephone number utilization studies it has ordered from the various telecommunications service providers. The CPUC will also consider conservation measures such as number pooling and rate area consolidation.

A telecommunications industry group, comprised of various industry segments, collectively develops area code relief plans for the state of California. Area code relief activities in California are administered by NeuStar, Inc., which was selected by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to serve as the NANPA.

NANPA is a neutral, third-party administrator that works with the telecommunications industry in developing area code relief plans and 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.

NeuStar, Inc. is an independent company that provides neutral, third-party clearinghouse services to the telecommunications industry.

Visit NANPA online at www.nanpa.com.

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