Press Release

Permissive Dialing Begins June 12 for 858 Area Code
New Area Code Assigned to 619 in 3-Way Split Plan

WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 7, 1999) — The first phase of a three-way area code split in Southern California's 619 area code will be implemented on June 12, with the introduction of the 858 area code in the northern portion of the calling area, according to the Communications Industry Services (CIS) division of NeuStar, Inc., which serves as the North American Numbering Plan Administration (NANPA).

Permissive dialing for the first phase of the split plan - the 858 area code in the northern portion of 619 - begins June 12. During that time, callers can use both the 619 and 858 area codes when making calls outside the respective calling areas.

The three-way split plan was approved by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) on June 4, 1998. The approved boundaries split the existing 619 region into three portions: northern, central and eastern. The 619 area code will be retained in the central portion. The northern portion will receive 858, California's 25th area code, and the eastern portion will receive the new 935 area code - the state's 30th 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 - receiving 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.

The introduction of the 858 area code will not affect the price of telephone calls.

Joe Cocke, NANPA's senior area code relief planner for the Western Region, including California, said the introduction of the new 858 area code is needed due to an increase in competition in the local phone service market, the growing demand by the public for additional telephone numbers, and a technical requirement in the phone network that allocates phone numbers in blocks of 10,000.

Permissive and Mandatory Dialing Period
A "permissive dialing" period for 858, beginning June 12, will enable callers from outside the area to use either the 619 or 858 area code when completing a call to customers in the new 858 calling area. A recorded message will remind callers that the area code has changed, but the call will still go through. The permissive dialing period runs through Dec. 11, at which time mandatory dialing of the 858 area code begins.

When mandatory dialing starts, callers must use the correct area code to complete their calls. If the wrong area code is dialed, callers will receive a recorded message reminding them that the area code has changed. Callers will have to hang up and re-dial the number, using the correct area code. The recorded message will remain on the line until March 11, 2000.

Permissive dialing for the eastern portion's 935 area code begins June 10, 2000, with mandatory dialing starting Dec. 9, 2000. A recorded reminder of the change to the 935 area code will remain until March 10, 2001.

Things to Remember
Cocke said customers should use this six-month permissive, or "get acquainted," dialing period to allow them time to get used to the new area code and to prepare for other important changes. Some changes customers should remember include:

• Changing stationery, business cards and advertising to reflect the correct area code if not already shown.
• Notify friends, relatives, business clients and customers of the new area code
• Updating fax machine group calling lists that have numbers affected by the change.
• Reprogramming speed dialers, auto dialers, alarms and PBX (private phone) systems to reflect the change
• Reprogram outdial lists on personal computers that have numbers affected by the change
• Check with their wireless phone and paging service providers as well as Internet Service Providers to see if reprogramming is required.

A telecommunications industry group, comprised of various industry segments, collectively developed the area code relief plan for California's 619 area code. Area code relief activities for the 619, 858 and 935 area codes are administered by CIS, 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.

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