CPUC
NEWS RELEASE
California Public Utilities Commission
Headquarters Office: 505 Van Ness Avenue San Francisco, CA 94102
Southern California: 320 West 4th Street, Suite 500 Los Angeles, California 90013http://www.cpuc.ca.gov
| CONTACT: |
Kyle DeVine (213)
576-7050 |
July 8,
1999 CPUC -535
(R95-04-043) |
CPUC Approves Split For
760 Area Code
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) today approved
splitting in two the 760 area code, which currently serves northern San Diego County and
Southern California deserts, beginning October 21, 2000. The plan approved was referred to
in public meetings as Alternative 6B and places the new area code in the western area. The
new area code should be assigned by August.
The Commission decided to split the area, rather than use an overlay
where two area codes serve the same area, because it is a large area, making it rather
easy to split and still keep communities of interest together.
The geographic area currently served by the 760 code extends east
and southeast from the beach in northern San Diego County, to the Nevada, Arizona and
Mexican borders. It includes northern San Diego County, Palm Springs, Death Valley, the
eastern side of the Sierra Nevada, and Imperial County.
Communities in the west, which will get the new area code, include
Oceanside, Carlsbad, Pendleton, Encinitas, Vista, Fallbrook, Pauma Valley, Valley Center,
Escondido, Ramona, Warner Springs, Julian and Borrego.
With the split, consumers in both areas will be able to reach others
within the same area code by dialing just the seven-digit phone number.
When the split begins on October 21, 2000, callers may reach each
other’s area code by dialing the seven-digit number or using all eleven digits –
1 + area code + seven-digit number. Callers from other areas will be able to reach
consumers in the area served by the new area code by dialing the old or the new area code
and then the seven-digit number.
On April 14, 2001, using the new area code to reach consumers in
that area becomes mandatory for everyone outside that area code. If they do not, they will
hear a recording advising them to hang up and redial using the new area code with the
phone number. This message service will continue for three months.
Beginning July 21, 2001, callers who do not use the correct
area code will either get a disconnect recording or reach the wrong person – phone
companies may begin assigning phone numbers, that used to be in just one of the area
codes, in the other area code.
The 760 area code was created in 1997 when the area was split off
from the 619 area code. It needs to be split again because telecommunications devices and
companies needing numbers to provide local phone service have rapidly depleted the supply
of new prefixes. There are 792 usable prefixes in an area code; 10,000 numbers in a
prefix.
The telecommunications industry, the CPUC, and the North American
Numbering Plan Administration (NANPA), which monitors area codes, forecasts when more have
to be added, and assigns new area codes, met with community leaders on December 8, 1998,
in Palm Springs. Meetings with the public were held this year in Bishop on January 13,
Oceanside on January 14, Palm Springs on January 21, and El Centro on January 21. Various
plans were discussed about splitting the area, using an overlay, or a combination of a
split and overlay. The plan adopted today received the most support at the meetings. Under
the plan, the 760 area code may last 14 years until it needs another area code and the new
area code may last 6 years before needing another area code.