Arizona Republic from Phoenix, Arizona • Page 14

A14 The Arizona Republic Friday, December 11, 1998 ewest area cdle plae spits PBtoeiniB: AREA CODE BOUNDARIES Existing Suggested new boundary Joy Ranch Rd Options exist to solve area code problems 520 I C2 7 feel 1 seriously erred in supporting the geographic overlay. JIM IRVIN CORPORATION COMMISSIONER, ON WHY HE SWITCHED HIS VOTE 520 480 (proposed) Thunderbird RdS" Shea Blvd 480 I (proposed) Xli Ys l-o VanBurenSt. Ljmp-''' NEWEST, ftvm Page Al One of the main arguments against the geographic split has been that the 602 territory would have to be subdivided again in 1 8 to 36 months. But by lopping off Phoenix north of Thunderbird Road and including it in 480, the need for a third area code could be delayed for at least seven years. The extra time could be used to explore options of further extending the lives of the two area codes.

Such alternatives might include a special area code for cellular phones, fax machines and pagers, and a number pooling system that would require entities with huge blocks of assigned, but unused, numbers to relinquish them. The Federal Communications Commission is adverse to approving technology overlays, and there is now no mechanism for requiring the relinquishment of unused numbers. i Reconsideration of the issue was made possible by Commission Chairman Jim Irvin, who after earlier voting with Carl Kunasek in favor of the overlay plan, recanted Thursday and sided with Renz Jennings to dump the plan. "I feel I seriously erred in supporting the geographic overlay," Irvin said of his earlier vote. The vote led to additional public comment on the subject.

Representatives of the security alarm and cellular telephone industries supported the overlay, while private citizens and a representative of Gov. Jane Hull backed the alternative plan. "The governor would prefer not to have an overlay," said Teri Lynn Grier, Arizona's telecommunications policy officer. "She would prefer a more cautious approach that allows more flexibility, particularly with changing technology." areas. But under that plan, the 602 area code would have to be subdivided again in 18 to.

36 months. The 480 area code would not have to be subdivided for about 12 years. A more recent plan would shrink the size of the proposed 602 area code and include Phoenix north of Thunderbird Road in 480. That would give both area codes a life of about seven years. Establish three area codes now and avoid the inconvenience of having to change numbers again down the road.

The FCC is thought to be reluctant to approve more than one new area code at one time. Create a separate area code for faxes, modems, call centers, cellular phones and similar customers to retain their 602. Again, the FCC is said to be reluctant to approve such a plan. Require companies and government agencies that hold large blocks of unused numbers to surrender them into a pool that could be made available to new customers. There is no mechanism for requiring the holders of those unused numbers to relinquish them.

Max Jarman can be reached at 444-7351 or at max.jarmanpni.com via e-mail. By Max Jarman The Arizona Republic Because of rapid population growth and the rising use of cellular phones, modems and fax machines, new telephone numbers under the current 602 area code that covers metropolitan Phoenix will be exhausted by June 1999. In order to ensure the availability of phone service for new residents and businesses, the Arizona Corporation Commission is under pressure to establish a new area code. The number 480 has been assigned by the North American Numbering Council, but the commission is wrestling with how to allocate the new area code. Options include: The overlay, which would allow existing phone customers to retain the 602 area code and assign 480 to all new lines.

The plan would require 10-digit dialing. The Federal Communications Commission could grant an exception, allowing seven-digit calling to like area codes, but the agency is thought to be reluctant to do so. Assign the new area code geographically. One plan would allow Phoenix to retain 602 and assign 480 to all other 5 miles I 1 520 president of the Arizona Consumers Council. "It's much less confusing for consumers." But not all citizens groups supported a geographic plan.

Scott Wakefield, chief counsel for the Residential Utility Consumer Office, said the utility watchdog favors the overlay and called the geographic plan discriminatory. "It discriminates by requiring some consumers to change their numbers and others to keep them," he said. Businesses have voiced opposition to a geographic plan because of the expense of changing business cards, stationery and advertising. "The whole nation is eventually going to be required to do 10-digit dialing, so we might as well do it now," Wakefield said. Wakefield's sentiment was echoed by Kunasek, who remained steadfast in his support of the overlay plan.

While Irvin and Jennings agreed that eventually the nation will have to embrace 10-digit dialing and portable individual phone numbers, they believe it is prudent to put it off for now. "We should try to defer 10-digit dialing as long as possible and make this a friendly marketplace," Jennings said. Max ami an can be reached at 444-7351 or at max.jarmanpni.com via e-mail. ONLINE: Read previous stories on the area code overlay plan on Arizona Central, atwww.azcentral.com. The Arizona Republic glar and Fire Alarm Association estimated that 200,000 alarms would have to be reprogrammed under the geographic plan, at a cost of $20 mil- lion.

"Those costs will be passed on to consumers," she said. Those who opposed the overlay plan stressed the confusion that would ensue with mandatory 10-digit numbers and the loss of the geographic identity traditionally associated with an area code. "We still believe the geographic plan is best," said Phyllis Rowe, Grier said the governor urged the commission to work with the FCC to obtain a three-number split. The alarm and cellular telephone companies oppose creating new geographic area codes because it will cause them to reprogram telephones and alarm systems that fall in the new zones. Susan Renton of the Arizona Bur- tmjf i.

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