Relief Planning Teams Consider Plans For 513, 419 & 440

NEWS RELEASE

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio
180 E. Broad Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215-3793 FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Beth Gianforcaro, PUCO Media Office
(614) 466-7750

Alan R. Schriber, Chairman
Press Releases
WebSite: http://www.puc.state.oh.us/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 2, 1999
99-159

AREA CODE RELIEF PLANNING TEAMS PROPOSE PLANS FOR PUCO TO CONSIDER FOR
THE FOLLOWING AREA CODES: 513, 419, 440

COLUMBUS, OH -- To address the projected exhaust of three of Ohio's area codes (513, 419, and 440) Area Code Relief Planning Teams late yesterday filed recommendations for relief for the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) to consider. The Teams submitted proposals to the Commission which include both geographic splits and overlays for all three area codes.

A geographic split is a plan that separates the existing area code into two distinct but smaller geographic areas. One area would be assigned the new area code and one would retain the existing area code. With an overlay plan the new area code is layered on top of the preexisting area code in the same geographic area. With their proposals, the teams did not make recommendations about which side of a geographic split plan should receive a new area code.

Earlier this week, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) gave PUCO authority to implement certain area code conservation measures which could help to extend the lives of area codes in Ohio. One of the authorities granted to the PUCO was the authority to implement a trial to begin assigning numbers to telephone companies in groups of 1,000 instead of the current method which requires the assignment of numbers in blocks of 10,000. The FCC also gave the PUCO the authority to require telephone companies to return unused blocks of telephone numbers. While the FCC expressly required the PUCO to continue with area code relief plans, the PUCO will promptly begin to use the authority granted to investigate measures that might extend the lives of Ohio's area codes.

An overview of the teams' recommendations to the PUCO for each area code is as follows:

513 Area Code

• The 513 area code currently serves at least portions of the following counties: Hamilton, Clermont, Brown, Clinton, Greene, Montgomery, Warren, Butler, and Preble.

• The 513 area code is projected to exhaust in the first quarter of 2002.

• The 513 Area Code Relief Planning Team, which has been meeting since June 1999 recommended two plans for PUCO consideration: 1) an overlay plan; or 2) a geographic split plan:

a) "The Cincinnati Rate Center Plan" &endash; the plan geographically splits the Cincinnati "rate center" from the rest of the existing 513 area code. A rate center is a geographic area that determines the rating for local or long distance calls. The Cincinnati rate center covers most of Hamilton County.

419 Area Code

• The 419 area code currently serves at least portions of the following counties: Williams, Fulton, Lucas, Defiance, Henry, Wood, Sandusky, Erie, Paulding, Putnam, Hancock, Seneca, Huron, Lorain, Van Wert, Allen, Hardin, Wyandot, Crawford, Richland, Ashland, Holmes, Medina, Wayne, Mercer, Auglaize, Darke, Shelby, and Logan.

• The 419 area code is projected to exhaust in the first quarter of 2002.

• The 419 Area Code Relief Planning Team, which has been meeting since June 1999 recommended five plans for PUCO consideration: 1) an overlay plan; or 2) four geographic split plans:

a)
"Northwest 7-County Split Plan" &endash; This plan puts Defiance, Fulton, Henry, Lucas, Paulding, Williams, and Wood in one area code and the remainder of the existing 419 area code in another area code.

b)
"6-County/North Central Split Plan" &endash; This plan separates Fulton, Henry, Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky, and Wood from the remainder of the existing area code.

c)
"Northwest 9-County Split County Plan" &endash; This plan would put Defiance, Fulton, Henry, Lucas, Paulding, Putnam, Van Wert, Williams, and Wood in one area code and the remainder of the existing 419 area code in another.

d)
"East/West Split Plan" &endash; This plan would put Allen, Auglaize, Defiance, Fulton, Henry, Lucas, Mercer, Paulding, Putnam, Van Wert, Williams, and Wood in one area code and the remainder of the existing 419 area code in another.

440 Area Code

• The 440 area code currently serves customers in at least portions of the following counties: Erie, Huron, Lorain, Cuyahoga, Lake, Geauga, Ashtabula,Trumbull, and Portage.

• The 440 area code is projected to exhaust in the fourth quarter of 2001.

• The 440 Area Code Relief Planning Team, which has been meeting since June 1999 recommended three plans for PUCO consideration: 1) an overlay plan; or 2) two geographic split plans:

a)
"East/West (Brecksville/Bedford)" &endash; This plan would divide 440 into two area codes between Brecksville and the Walton Hills/Bedford area.

b)
"Cuyahoga & Lorain County Plan" &endash; This plan would primarily keep Cuyahoga and Lorain Counties in one area code and the remainder of the 440 area code would be another area code.

Public hearings will be held in 2000 in each of the exhausting area code areas. Under PUCO guidelines, the Commission has six months to consider these plans and any testimony presented at the public hearings and issue an order.

The Area Code Relief Planning Teams are made up of representatives of Ohio telephone companies and the PUCO Staff.

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Case Nos.

99-666-TP-COI (440 Area Code)
99-667-TP-COI (419 Area Code)
99-668-TP-COI (513 Area Code)

Editor's Note: Information about area codes in Ohio is available on the PUCO web page at: http://www.puc.state.oh.us/OHIOUTIL/TELECOM/AREACODES/INDEX.HTML

Specific area code proposals submitted to PUCO, are available at: http://www.puc.state.oh.us/DOCKET/reports/index.html

	NEWS RELEASE
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio 180 E. Broad Street Columbus, Ohio 43215-3793	FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Beth Gianforcaro, PUCO Media Office (614) 466-7750
Alan R. Schriber, Chairman Press Releases	WebSite: http://www.puc.state.oh.us/

•	The 513 area code currently serves at least portions of the following counties: Hamilton, Clermont, Brown, Clinton, Greene, Montgomery, Warren, Butler, and Preble.
•	The 513 area code is projected to exhaust in the first quarter of 2002.
•	The 513 Area Code Relief Planning Team, which has been meeting since June 1999 recommended two plans for PUCO consideration: 1) an overlay plan; or 2) a geographic split plan:

•	The 419 area code currently serves at least portions of the following counties: Williams, Fulton, Lucas, Defiance, Henry, Wood, Sandusky, Erie, Paulding, Putnam, Hancock, Seneca, Huron, Lorain, Van Wert, Allen, Hardin, Wyandot, Crawford, Richland, Ashland, Holmes, Medina, Wayne, Mercer, Auglaize, Darke, Shelby, and Logan.
•	The 419 area code is projected to exhaust in the first quarter of 2002.
•	The 419 Area Code Relief Planning Team, which has been meeting since June 1999 recommended five plans for PUCO consideration: 1) an overlay plan; or 2) four geographic split plans:

a)	"Northwest 7-County Split Plan" &endash; This plan puts Defiance, Fulton, Henry, Lucas, Paulding, Williams, and Wood in one area code and the remainder of the existing 419 area code in another area code.
b)	"6-County/North Central Split Plan" &endash; This plan separates Fulton, Henry, Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky, and Wood from the remainder of the existing area code.
c)	"Northwest 9-County Split County Plan" &endash; This plan would put Defiance, Fulton, Henry, Lucas, Paulding, Putnam, Van Wert, Williams, and Wood in one area code and the remainder of the existing 419 area code in another.
d)	"East/West Split Plan" &endash; This plan would put Allen, Auglaize, Defiance, Fulton, Henry, Lucas, Mercer, Paulding, Putnam, Van Wert, Williams, and Wood in one area code and the remainder of the existing 419 area code in another.

•	The 440 area code currently serves customers in at least portions of the following counties: Erie, Huron, Lorain, Cuyahoga, Lake, Geauga, Ashtabula,Trumbull, and Portage.
•	The 440 area code is projected to exhaust in the fourth quarter of 2001.
•	The 440 Area Code Relief Planning Team, which has been meeting since June 1999 recommended three plans for PUCO consideration: 1) an overlay plan; or 2) two geographic split plans:

a)	"East/West (Brecksville/Bedford)" &endash; This plan would divide 440 into two area codes between Brecksville and the Walton Hills/Bedford area.
b)	"Cuyahoga & Lorain County Plan" &endash; This plan would primarily keep Cuyahoga and Lorain Counties in one area code and the remainder of the 440 area code would be another area code.