ORTH HOLLYWOOD--A public utilities commissioner
warned Friday that legislation proposed by Assemblyman
Wally Knox (D-Los Angeles) to scrap 11-digit dialing could
leave consumers with only one option when their area codes get
crowded--to split.
"The FCC says if you are going to have an overlay you must have
10-digit dialing," said Public Utilities Commissioner Joseph Neeper,
who did not include the "1" required before such calls.
"The Knox bill asks for seven digits rather than 10. If that passes,
federal and state law will be at loggerheads," he said at a meeting to
discuss the proposed 818 area code overlay. "From my perspective,
then we can only split, we can't overlay."
Knox said the intent of his bill is to "push the issue to the forefront"
even if it means pushing the envelope of legality.
Neeper and Knox participated in the panel discussion sponsored by
the Valley Industry and Commerce Assn. John Banuelos, a
spokesman for Pacific Bell, also served as a panelist.
The powerful association, which represents hundreds of Valley
businesses, prefers an area code overlay over a split because
companies would rather keep their existing phone numbers. But
association members are looking for ways to relieve demand for new
area codes because they dislike either option, said spokesman Scott
Schmidt.
The Los Angeles City Council unanimously passed a motion Friday
opposing the overlay proposal until larger issues of telephone number
availability are resolved. The position will be forwarded to the PUC,
said a spokeswoman for Councilwoman Laura Chick, who introduced
the motion.
A state administrative law judge for the PUC recommended the 818
area code overlay last week, rejecting an alternative plan to divide
the area code geographically.
The proposed overlay would require callers to dial 818 even for calls
made within the area code, and it would establish a new area code
for future phone connections.
A coalition of telecommunications companies, including Pacific Bell,
GTE and MCI, contend a new area code or an overlay is necessary
to accommodate increased demand for additional telephone lines for
computer modems, fax machines, pagers and cellular telephones.
Critics, including business owners and consumer advocates, say an
additional area code and 11-digit phone numbers would cause
confusion, frustration and expense for commercial and residential
callers.
The PUC is scheduled to consider the overlay proposal Aug. 5.
The 818 proposal comes on the heels of a 310 area code overlay
that was scheduled to take effect July 17. The plan was suspended
last month because of public opposition, but Westside businesses and
residents continue to have to dial 11 digits for local calls.
Statewide, there are 180 million phone numbers allocated to telephone
companies and 35 million of those are being used, according to the
PUC.
With fewer than 1.5 million residents in the San Fernando Valley and
7.9 million telephone numbers available, Knox questions why
consumers should have to accept a new area code.
"The numbers are not running out," he said. "What's running out is our
ability to assign numbers in a rational way."
Knox's proposed bill would roll back mandatory 11-digit dialing in the
310 area code. It would also require carriers to disclose to the PUC
which telephone numbers are in use and which are not.
The proposed bill is scheduled to be reviewed Tuesday by the Senate
Utilities Committee.
Pacific Bell's Banuelos said his company and GTE use close to 80%
of their numbers, and are required to provide audits for the PUC
when area code changes are made. It is the smaller competitors
who are not required to disclose how many of their numbers are
actually in use, he said.
Between 1947 and 1992 the number of area codes in California
increased from three to 13 and continued at that level until 1997,
when a 14th was added. By the end of 1999, California will have 26
area codes, and there are plans to increase the number of area
codes to 40 by 2002.
Commissioner Neeper said he believes overlay remains the best
option.
"The entire state of Maryland is an overlay," he said. "Let's stop
kidding that this is like AIDS or cancer. Is it more trouble? Yes. Is it
a terrible imposition to do it all the time? I don't think so."

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