Press Release

New "2-way Split" Relief Alternative Approved for 316 Area Code
New 620 Area Code - Split in Southern Kansas - Beginning 2001

WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 21, 2000) - A new area code - 620 - assigned to most of the greater part of southern Kansas, was announced today by NeuStar, Inc., which serves as the North American Numbering Plan Administration (NANPA). This relief plan calls for a two-way geographic split of the 316 area code, which includes the southern counties of Kansas.

The mid section of the 316 area code, serving the greater Wichita area and most of Harvey, Butler and Sedgwick counties, will retain the new 316 area code. Some of the cities and communities retaining the 316 area code include Wichita, El Dorado, Newton, Augusta, Mulvane, Cheney, Mount Hope, and Halstead. The remaining portions of the existing 316 area code will change to the 620 area code after the implementation of the new 620 area code.

On September 5, the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) adopted a two-way geographic split relief plan for the area now served by the 316 area code.

The Geographic Split
The implementation of the 316 relief plan begins with the introduction of the 620 area code during a "permissive" dialing period, which is scheduled to begin no later than January 1, 2001. During this period, customers can use either the old 316 or the new 620 to place calls within the new area code.

Mandatory dialing of the 620 area code begins later in 2001. The specific date will be determined later by the telecommunications industry. After that date, callers who do not use the new area code will receive a recorded message reminding them that the area code has changed. They will be required to redial the number using the correct area code. The recorded reminder will be available for approximately three months. Customers in the new 620 area code will still be able to make calls to other numbers in the 620 area code by dialing just the seven-digit number.

Some of the cities and communities in the new 620 area include Elkhart, Syracuse, Scott City, Garden City, Liberal, Dodge City, Hutchinson, McPherson, Hesston, Burrton, Walton, Potwin, Cassoday, Rosalia, Latham, Clearwater, Wellington, Arkansas City, Emporia, Independence, Fort Scott, Pittsburg, and Columbus.

Why New Area Codes are Needed and How to Plan
Joe Cocke, NANPA's senior area code relief planner for the western region, including Kansas, said the introduction of a new 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.

When switching to or adding a new area code, customers should remember the following:

• Changing stationery, business cards and advertising to reflect the correct area code.
• Updating fax machine group calling lists.
• Reprogramming speed dialers, auto dialers, alarms and PBX (private phone systems).
• Reprogramming outdial lists on personal computers.

Cocke said the introduction of the 620 area code will not affect the price of telephone calls. "Local calls will remain local calls regardless of the area code dialed," he noted.

A telecommunications industry group, comprised of various industry segments, collectively develops area code relief plans for the state of Kansas. Area code relief activities in Kansas 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 many Caribbean islands.

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