Toxcina King
The growing number of home and business telephones has created a shortage of available telephone numbers in the San Fernando Valley’s 818 area code. Now, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is proposing a new area code for the Valley – 747. For more than 20 years, the Valley has avoided the area code cut outs that have hit much of Southern California. But recently, The North American Numbering Plan Administration, which oversees the national telephone numbering system, projected that the Valley will run out of 818 numbers by late 2009.Not everyone is excited about the proposal. It came as a shock to many Valley officials, activists and business owners who knew nothing about the CPUC’s plan to add the new 747 area code.Brendan L. Huffman, president of the Sherman Oaks-based Valley Industry & Commerce Association (VICA), said, “CPUC has recently notified VICA, and I presume local chambers, about the pending area code changes. As much as Valley residents and businesses love our 818 identity, it looks like we’ve outgrown our own exclusive area code.” The CPUC plan lays out two options for implementation. One involves the Valley being cut in half along east-west lines, with one side of the region keeping 818 and the other side having 747.The other option is an ‘overlay,’ in which all new phone numbers in the Valley will get the new 747 area code, while existing numbers will keep the 818 prefix.”Area code changes are usually an inconvenience, as businesses have to purchase new stationery, market their new phone number, reprogram all their phone lines such as DSL and ATM dialups and just get used to dialing differently,” said Huffman.”Assuming that there, in fact, is a shortage of available phone numbers, VICA prefers an overlay rather than a split,” he said. The rising demand for Blackberrys, cellular phones, modems for the Internet and other high-tech equipment is further increasing the need for phone numbers. With the arrival of universal competition in California’s local telephone markets, each new service requires its own supply of telephone numbers. No matter what the choice, it’s apparent this issue is getting harsh criticism from business owners and Valley residents alike. To address public concerns and inform Valley residents about the new 747 area code, the CPUC have scheduled meetings set to take place Oct. 22 to Oct. 24. For more information on times and locations, visit their website at www.cpuc.ca.gov.