Volume 6, No 2
Information Technology News of the University of California, Davis October 1997
Information Technology News of the University of California, Davis October 1997
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916/707 Area Code Boundary Realignmentby Babak Yousefzadeh
Why Have A Boundary Realignment?When local telephone markets begin exhausting their current reserve of prefixes, due to rapid growth of customers, they must run a relief program that would restore the phone number supply to an acceptable size. One way of accomplishing this, as was seen in the 916-530 area code split, is to split an existing large area code into two smaller ones. Another way of accomplishing the same task is shifting boundary alignments so that prefixes in the exhausted area code are moved into an adjacent one. In this case, part of the Dixon area is being realigned to fall under the adjacent 707 area code. When To Expect The ChangeThe new boundary realignment of area code 916 to area code 707 will be introduced in three steps, in order to help guide customers, familiarize them with the new area code, and promote the correct use of that code. What Does The Boundary Realignment Mean To Me?Depending on your current prefix (the first three numbers in your phone number), you will be assigned an area code that may remain 916 or be changed to 707. After the change has been fully implemented, it will be necessary to dial the appropriate area code when dialing from outside the new 707 boundary realignment, including when dialing between the 916 and 707 area codes. For example, if calling Davis from Dixon, you would have to dial one (1) plus the area code plus the number (e.g., 1-916-752-5555). Who Will Be Affected By The Change?The only people that will be affected by the 916-707 boundary realignment will be those current 916 customers whose phone numbers begin with 678 and 693. It is important to note that your seven (7) digit phone number will NOT change with this boundary realignment. The only changes occur in the area code. For example, a 916 customer whose number was 916-678-5555 will simply change to 707-678-5555. However, even though 678 and 693 are becoming area code 707 prefixes, they will continue to remain in the current service area. This means that you will continue to be served by your local telephone company. How Does The Split Affect My Phone Bill?The cost of calls will NOT change because the service areas will remain the same. How Can I Better Prepare For The Change?If you reside in the new 707 area code, you should prepare yourself by notifying, in advance, your families, friends, and business associates of the upcoming change. You may also have to change, among other things, your: Changes Made To The 911 and 411 Services911: 911 services will NOT be affected in anyway by the split. Whom To Contact For Questions And CommentsFor any questions regarding the area code split, you can contact your local telephone service provider. |