Panel OKs Limits on New Area Codes

In a decision that could change the way telecommunications companies operate in California, a state Senate committee has approved legislation that would rescind the controversial 310 area code overlay and ban future area code splits.

The Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee voted 8 to 1 on Tuesday to approve the Area Code Relief Act (AB 818).

The amended legislation would also create a single area code for fax machines, modems, cellular phones, pagers, ATMs and other electronic devices requiring telephone lines.

That would free up a large quantity of telephone numbers and delay the need to create area code overlays, which require new phones in a neighborhood to have a different area code, or an area code split, which designates a new area code for entire neighborhoods.

The bill also calls for a ban on future area code overlays and seeks to reduce the amount of phone numbers the state Public Utilities Commission can assign to telephone companies from blocks of 10,000 to 1,000 at a time.

The proposed measure orders a reversal of the 310 area code overlay in West Los Angeles and the South Bay. Telephone customers have waged a grass-roots campaign against the overlay, which since April has required callers to dial 1-310 for local calls.

“The committee’s decision was a major step toward significant reform of the area code debacle in California,” said Assemblyman Wally Knox (D-Los Angeles), who introduced the bill and spoke Tuesday before the Senate committee.

“The state Legislature has sent a loud and clear signal that if the PUC doesn’t step up to the plate and reform the system, we are capable of doing it,” Knox said.

Representatives from Pacific Bell, GTE and other telecommunications companies urged the committee to reject the legislation, arguing that area code overlays and splits are necessary to cope with soaring demand for new phone lines.

But their appeals did not sway the 11-member committee. Two members abstained and another was absent.

The legislation will go before the Senate Appropriations Committee. If approved, the bill would go to the full Senate and be returned to the Assembly for a final review before being sent to Gov. Gray Davis.

Next month, state regulators are expected to consider an area code overlay in the San Fernando Valley’s 818 area code.

Under the overlay proposal, all new phones in Valley homes and businesses would get the new area code. The three numbers have not been selected.

In addition to the new area code, all Valley callers would have to dial 1-818 to reach other 818 numbers--even if they are next door.

A coalition of telecommunications companies, including Pacific Bell, GTE and MCI, is seeking the changes in 818, saying that either an overlay or a new geographic area code is necessary to accommodate demand for new telephone lines.

The 818 proposal comes on the heels of a 310 area code overlay that was scheduled to take effect Saturday. The plan to add a 424 area code to new telephone numbers was suspended last month because of public opposition.