State Directs Phone Companies To Postpone
Switchover Date For 360 Area Code

OLYMPIA, Wash. - Saying it is premature to impose 10-digit dialing for local calls on customers any earlier than necessary, the state utilities commission today directed the phone companies to postpone until next year the mandatory changeover date for residents in the 360 area code in Western Washington.

The new 564 area code overlay and accompanying 10-digit local dialing had been scheduled to take effect on July 29, but in a unanimous decision, the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) determined that existing prefixes in 360 could be used for an additional six months. The commission also told the telecommunications industry to select a new implementation date, no sooner than Feb. 1, 2001.

Last September, the WUTC accepted the telecommunications industry plan to introduce a new area code for the 360 region of Western Washington because the industry was running out of three-digit telephone prefixes. The industry plan called for overlaying a new area code (564) over the entire 360 region. All existing phone numbers would retain the 360 area code but all new or additional phone lines would be assigned the new area code of 564. This results in all local phone calls requiring 10 digits, including the area code and 7-digit phone number to be completed.

The permissive or transitional dialing period for 360 area code residents began Feb. 5. This period allows customers time to use either 7 or 10 digits when dialing a local call. A consumer factsheet is available with more information.

The commission also ordered the companies to file reports showing how they use the 360 area code prefixes now. Under the current system, the North American Numbering Plan Administrator, a private company contracted by the federal government, doles out numbers in blocks of 10,000. With the proliferation of new telephone and wireless companies, many of the phone prefixes have been handed out, but not all are in use. Here's a listing of prefix use by company and telephone exchange:

The commission also believes the drain on the supply of 360 phone numbers has slowed down recently. This change coupled with the new phone number conservation efforts would allow for the six-month delay for launching the new 564 area code and the mandatory switch to 10-digit local calling. The WUTC received 110 public comments, of which only one customer was in favor of the new 564 area code overlay plan.

Last fall, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) began granting permission to the state utilities commissions to require the telecommunications companies to pool or share unused phone numbers. The WUTC petitioned the FCC for authority Dec. 9, 1999.

Last month, the telecommunications providers adopted an overlay plan for the entire central Puget Sound area, including area codes 206, 425 and 253. The commission was notified last week that area code 509 will also run out of numbers and a new area code will be needed in 2002.
###

1300 S. Evergreen Park Drive SW - Olympia, WA 98504-7250
Phone: 360-664-1160 (in state toll-free: 1-800-562-6150) FAX: 360-586-1150