UC Davis Will Get New Area Code in the Fall

The California Public Utilities Commission has approved several area code splits in 23 Northern California counties, and, as a result, the majority of Yolo County, including Davis and UC Davis, will receive a new 530 area code on Nov. 1, 1997.

Developing area code relief plans is a delicate balancing act between keeping as many communities of common interest as possible in the same area code, while obtaining the longest life span for both the existing and the new area codes. The 530 area code is expected to last 18 years.

Implementation of new area codes requires tight coordination among all public networked switches and is controlled at the national level. Typically, there is a permissive dialing period of at least six months when callers can dial existing numbers using either the old area code or the new one.

Please note that the new area codes will not affect the price of telephone calls.

The campus community should begin planning for changes in publications, printed materials, stationery, and business cards. When the new area code is implemented, changes will need to be made in programmable communications equipment, such as telephones and fax machines.

Direct questions to Grazia Jaroff at 752-5940 or gjaroff@ucdavis.edu .