New 'Overlay' Relief Plan Approved for 503 Area Code;
971 is Oregon's First Overlay Area Code;
Service Begins Jan. 30, 2000WASHINGTON, May 14 /PRNewswire/ -- A new overlay area code -- 971 -- has been assigned to Oregon's 503 area code, which serves the greater northwestern portion of the state, according to the Communications Industry Services (CIS) group of Lockheed Martin IMS, which serves as the North American Numbering Plan Administration (NANPA).
The 971 area code is the first overlay for the state and was approved by the Oregon Public Utilities Commission (OPUC) on April 20. The new area code will generally serve the same geographic area as the current 503 area code, except for the coastal communities in Clatsop and Tillamook counties. New phone numbers will be assigned to the 971 area code on January 30, 2000.
In an overlay area code, a second area code is added to the same geographic area as the existing area code. All existing numbers will retain the 503 area code, but new telephone customers for local phone service, cellular and paging services, and alarms, for example, assigned in the same area may receive the new 971 area code.
In addition, all telephone calls made in the overlay area require 10-digit dialing (area code + seven-digit phone number) -- this includes calls currently dialed with seven digits in the 503 area code and even those within the same area code.
The coastal communities within the exchanges of Warrenton, Astoria, Knappa, Seaside, Jewell, Cannon Beach, Nehalem, Rockaway, Garibaldi, Bay City, Tillamook, Beaver, Pacific City, and Cloverdale will not be assigned the new area code at this time and will retain seven-digit dialing.
The 503 area code will continue to serve all current customers in the coastal communities such as those mentioned above, as well as those in and around the greater Portland and Salem areas.
To introduce the new 971 overlay area code, a formal six-month "permissive dialing" period begins on July 11, 1999, and runs until January 30, 2000. During that time, customers calling from within the 503 area can dial either the seven- or 10-digit telephone number. Customers within the 503 area code, except in the coastal communities, are encouraged to begin dialing 10 digits on all calls starting in July, to get used to the new dialing plan for the 503 and 971 area codes.
At the end of the "permissive dialing" period -- January 30, 2000 -- callers must use 10-digit dialing to complete their calls. Callers who don't use 10-digit dialing will receive a recorded message reminding them to dial 10 digits. They will then be required to redial the number. New phone numbers will be assigned in the 971 area code beginning January 30, 2000.
Joe Cocke, NANPA's senior area code relief planner for the Western Region, including Oregon, said the introduction of the new 971 area code is needed to meet the rapidly growing demand for additional telephone numbers in the 503 area code.
"The demand for additional telephone numbers has been driven by several factors including an increase in Oregon's population and healthy economic conditions," Cocke said. "Businesses are also expanding and needing additional telephone numbers, as well as a need for second and third phone lines in the home, and for more wireless services." Another factor is an increase in local telephone service competition, Cocke added.
When switching to or adding a new area code, Cocke said there are several items customers should remember including:
- Changing stationery, business cards, and advertising to reflect the correct area code if not already shown.
- Updating fax machine group calling lists to include 10-digit phone numbers.
- Reprogramming speed dialers, auto dialers, alarms, and PBX (private phone systems).
- Reprogramming outdial lists on personal computers to include 10 digits.
- Updating or reprogramming private-dial entry access systems for 10 digits.
Cocke said the introduction of the 971 area code will not affect the price of telephone calls. "Local calls will remain local calls regardless of the area code dialed," he noted.
A telecommunications industry group comprised of more than 20 companies collectively developed the area code relief plan for Oregon. Area code relief activities are administered by CIS, which was selected by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to serve as the NANPA. NANPA is a neutral, third-party administrator that works with the telecommunications industry in developing area code relief plans and also oversees the assignment of area codes, three-digit central office codes, carrier identification codes, and other numbering resources throughout the United States, Canada, Bermuda, and 16 Caribbean countries.
SOURCE Lockheed Martin IMS
CO: Lockheed Martin IMS; North American Numbering Plan Administration
ST: Oregon