626 Area Code Becomes Mandatory On February 21
"Get Acquainted" Dialing Period Ends
Los Angeles, California, February 17, 1998
Effective February 21, it will be mandatory for callers to dial 626 to reach most residents in the San Gabriel Valley. Anyone not dialing the 626 area code will receive a recorded message reminding them of the area code change. The reminder will last for six months.
For the past eight months, a "get acquainted" dialing period has enabled callers to use either the 818 or 626 area code when completing a call to customers in the new 626 area code. Also during the last eight months, people in the 818 and 626 area codes could call between the two area codes using seven digits. That arrangement will end February 21. Beginning that day, customers must dial 1 the area code and seven-digit number to dial between the 818 and 626 area codes.
The 626 area code was created through a geographic split of the 818 area code in June 1997. The new area code serves approximately one-third of the customers formerly served by the 818 area code.
Area Code Boundaries
A reminder of important details:
· Former 818 area code customers in most of the San Gabriel Valley must begin using the 626 instead of the 818 area code beginning February 21. Communities and cities affected by this change include: South Pasadena, Alhambra, Monterey Park, El Monte, La Puente, Covina, Glendora, Azusa, Monrovia, Sierra Madre, Mt. Waterman, most of Pasadena and a very small section of Glendale. Customers in the San Gabriel Valley who have other area codes, such as 213, 909 or 562, will not switch to 626; this change only affects 818 customers.
· Customers in the San Fernando Valley and several nearby cities will keep the 818 area code. Cities and communities not affected by this change include: Burbank, La Crescenta, La Canada Flintridge, San Fernando, Agoura, Calabasas, Encino, Granada Hills, Northridge, Pacoima, Reseda, Studio City, Van Nuys, Woodland Hills, Canoga Park, Chatsworth, Olive View, Sunland, Tujunga, most of Glendale and a very small portion of Pasadena.
Price of Calls Will Not Be Affected
California Code Administrator Doug Hescox, who oversees area code relief efforts on behalf of the statewide telecommunications industry, said the introduction of the 626 area code will not affect the price of telephone calls.
"Call distance determines call price," Hescox said. "What is a local call now will remain a local call regardless of the area code change." According to Hescox, the area code's introduction will not affect customers' seven-digit phone numbers. "Only the area code portion of their phone number will change," he said.
Things to Remember
Hescox noted that it is important to remember - if you haven't already done so - to make important changes including:
· Change stationery, business cards and advertising to reflect the new area code
· Notify friends, relatives, business clients and customers of the new area code
· Update fax machine group calling lists that have numbers affected by the change
· Reprogram speed dialers, auto dialers, alarms and PBX (private phone systems) to reflect the change (contact your equipment vendor for assistance)
· Reprogram outdial lists on personal computers that have numbers affected by the change
· Check with wireless phone and paging service providers as well as Internet Service Providers to see if reprogramming is required.
"The area code change has special implications for certain types of telecommunications equipment, which must be reprogrammed to recognize the new-style area codes," Hescox said. "Historically, area codes always had either a '1' or '0' as the middle digit for identification purposes, but by 1995 all of those codes had been assigned. However, certain types of telecommunications equipment were built to look for that middle digit of '1' or '0' to process the call."
Hescox continued, "Because of this, it's important for customers to know that PBX (private phone systems), auto dialers, alarms and other telecommunications equipment may have to be reprogrammed to recognize these new-style area codes in order for calls to complete." Hescox recommends that people check with their vendors to determine whether their equipment needs to be updated. Businesses are also reminded to notify their customers of the area code change.
Skyrocketing Demand for Phone Numbers in California
The 626 area code was created to meet the skyrocketing demand for new phone numbers not only in the San Gabriel Valley, but across the state.
"Californians are continuing to use telephone numbers at record rates," Hescox said. "California already has 18 area codes and will need to add five more during 1998 to keep pace with customer demand for new phone numbers."
The new 626 area code is expected to accommodate the need for new phone numbers for about 15 years, while the remaining 818 area code is anticipated to last about four years.
"Two primary factors driving the demand are local telephone service competition and the high-technology explosion," Hescox added. "With the onset of widespread competition in California's local telephone market, each new provider requires its own supply of telephone numbers."
According to Hescox, the rising demand for fax machines, pagers, cellular phones, modems for Internet access and other high-tech equipment also increase the demand for phone numbers.
The California Public Utilities Commission approved a geographic split plan for 818 area code relief in November 1996. California Code Administration is an independent planning group that coordinates area code relief planning and administers numbering resources on behalf of the California telecommunications industry. Final decisions on area code issues are made by the California Public Utilities Commission.
