Press Release

New "3-way Split" Relief Alternative Approved for 707 Area Code (California)
New 369 Area Code - Split in Southern Section - Effective December 2, 2000
New 627 Area Code - Split in Central Section - Effective October 13, 2001

WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 29, 1999) - Two new area codes - 369 and 627 - assigned to the 707 area code of northern California, were announced today by NeuStar, Inc., which serves as the North American Numbering Plan Administration (NANPA).

This unique relief plan that calls for a three-way geographic split of the calling area, includes the northern California coastal counties, as well as Solano, Sonoma and Napa counties.

In phase one of the relief plan, the southern section of the 707 area code, which serves Solano County, will change to the new 369 area code. In phase two of the relief plan, the central section of the 707 area code, which serves Sonoma and Napa counties, will change to the new 627 area code.

The counties in the northern portion retaining the 707 area code after the implementation of the two splits are as follows: Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino, Lake Counties and a small portion of Trinity County. Some of the cities and communities retaining the 707 area code include Crescent City, Eureka, Garberville, Laytonville, Mendocino, Ukiah and Gualala.

On December 16, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) adopted a two-phase, three-way split relief plan for the area now served by the 707 area code.

This is the second time a three-way, geographic split will be implemented in California in the same area code. It will be set up in two phases: the geographic split for the southern portion of 707, and another split which will cover the central portion of the 707 calling area.

The first 3-way split ordered by the CPUC is the 619-858-935 area code split, which was approved by the CPUC on June 4, 1998. The first phase of the split to the new 858 area code was completed December 11, 1999. The second phase splitting off to the 935 area code is scheduled to start permissive dialing on June 10, 2000.

Phase One - The First Geographic Split
The first phase of the 707 relief plan begins with the introduction of the 369 area code during a six-month "permissive" dialing period, which begins December 2, 2000. During this period, customers can use either the old 707 or the new 369 to place calls within the new area code. In addition, customers in 707 and 369 can call between the two calling areas using seven-digit dialing (prefix plus four-digit number without the area code) during the permissive period.

Mandatory dialing of the 369 area code begins on June 2, 2001. 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 ends on September 8, 2001. Customers in the new 369 area code will still be able to make calls to other numbers in the 369 area code by dialing just the seven-digit number.

Some of the cities and communities in the new 369 area include Benicia, Dixon, Fairfield, Rio Vista, Suisun City, Vallejo, and Vacaville.

Phase Two - The Second Geographic Split
Phase Two of the three-way relief plan - the 627 area code - will also be introduced to the central portion of the 707 area during a six-month "permissive" dialing period, which begins October 13, 2001, and runs through April 13, 2002. Mandatory dialing of the 627 area code begins on April 13, 2002. The recorded reminder ends on July 13, 2002. Customers in the new 627 area code will still be able to make calls to other numbers in the 627 area code by dialing just the seven-digit number. During this time, customers calling from within the 707 area can dial either the 1+10 digits or just the seven-digit telephone number.

Some of the cities and communities in the new 627 area code include Bodega Bay, Calistoga, Cloverdale, Guerneville, Healdsburg, Kenwood, Napa, Petaluma, Santa Rosa, Sonoma and Yountville.

Why New Area Codes are Needed and How to Plan
Joe Cocke, NANPA's senior area code relief planner for the western region, including California, said the introduction of new area codes 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 369 and 627 area codes 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 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. NeuStar, Inc., was formerly known as the Communications Industry Services (CIS) group within Lockheed Martin IMS.

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