By Torre Peña
Last week, the California Public Utilities Commission moderated a series of four public forums on plans to create a new telephone area code within current 408 territory.
"The 408 area code is expected to run out of numbers by early 1999. We need to implement a new area code that will provide 7.9 million additional telephone numbers," said Doug Hescox, Pacific Bell California code administrator.
Hescox said the additional area code is needed to satisfy the phenomenal demand for consumer services needing phone lines. The demand stems from an increase in new phone numbers for faxes, computer modems and wireless services, such as pagers and cellular phones.
Today, California has 13 area codes, more than any other state. The utilities commission plans to double this number to 26 in the next five years to relieve the demand for new numbers.
The 408 area code went into service in 1959, when it was split off from the 415 area code. The new area code, which will be split off from the current 408 area code, may be introduced as early as April 1998.
State law requires that phone companies maintain their current local rates for the new area codes. "The new area code will have no impact on the rates you pay for a telephone call," Hescox said. "A local call will still be a local call."Intended to supply information to the public, the forums conducted by the utilities commission outlined two alternatives being considered for the 408 area-code split.
The first alternative calls for a north/south split, keeping the 408 area code for Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Milpitas and parts of San Jose, including the airport and downtown areas. Everything south of this line, including Saratoga and Los Gatos, would receive a new area code.
Creating 7.9 million new numbers, this alternative extends the projected life of the 408 area code by six to seven years, and the new area code would have a projected life of 9.5 to 11.5 years.
The second alternative follows county lines and retains the 408 area code for Santa Clara County. In this case, Saratoga would keep the same area code, while most of the Santa Cruz County, San Benito County and Monterey County would receive a new area code. This alternative extends the life of the 408 area code by 3.5 to 4 years before a new relief plan would be needed.
Duckett-Brown said Pacific Bell customers will receive an insert with their monthly phone bill explaining the new area code change when a final decision is made.
The final plan must be approved by the utilities commission, and they are required to notify the public 15 months in advance of implementing the new plan. The utilities commission will consider public input in the decision-making process and could make a decision by the end of the year.
This article appeared in the Saratoga News, October 30, 1996.
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