Saratoga News

Despite protests, new area code will likely split Saratoga in two

By Jeff Kearns

Saratogans are not happy with what seems to be another division of their city. With the explosion of telecommunications technology in Silicon Valley, phone companies, along with the California Public Utilities Commission, are looking at plans for a new area code in Santa Clara County--and most of the alternatives on the table split Saratoga in two. Residents, business owners and city officials say getting a new area code for the city would be bad enough, but dividing the city into two area codes is simply unthinkable.

"I think it would be terrible," said Kristin Davis, president of the Saratoga Chamber of Commerce. Davis, who also owns The Front Window on Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road, said the idea of two area codes in Saratoga was even worse than the idea of having to replace business checks, stationery and cards should the city get an entirely new ZIP code.

"As inconvenient as it would be to have a new area code, it would be devastating to split us," she said.

Saratoga Mayor Don Wolfe said he and other city officials plan to put as much pressure as they can on the PUC to keep Saratoga intact, even though the city has no control in the matter.

"I think it's uncalled for in this day of technology," he said. "Utilities should be able to configure the phone lines to keep the city intact."

But city officials and residents will probably be disappointed, says Mary Jo Borak, a PUC regulatory analyst. "I don't think they understand the technology issues involved. There are real technical infrastructure constraints you have to deal with. It's highly unlikely Pacific Bell is going to spend millions to dig up streets and lines when they can't keep up with the current demand for service," she says.

Some residents have called for a new area code assigned only to wireless services, but FCC regulations prohibit any codes assigned on the basis of technology or service. At issue is fairness, and the commission decided in 1995 to deny new area codes for cell phones, pagers or faxes to prevent one service from being more favored by the public than others.

Pacific Bell is one of more than 30 service providers that will meet June 1 to decide on what plan works best. If the companies can all agree on one plan, the process will go ahead more smoothly than if the companies can't agree and recommend multiple alternatives.

Their recommendation will be forwarded to the PUC. A final recommendation will be prepared for the commissioners, who will ultimately approve, deny or modify the proposal. A final announcement should be made sometime this year.

The PUC will be accepting public comments on the new area code until May 20. Letters may be sent to the California Public Utilities Commission, Telecommunications Division, 505 Van Ness Ave., Room 2003, San Francisco, 94102.

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