New Dialing Procedures for 818 Area Code Go Into Effect on April 18th
Washington, D.C. - Congressman Brad Sherman is reminding San Fernando Valley residents and businesses that beginning on April 18, 2009 they will be required to dial the number one (1) and the area code prior to any phone number, even if dialing an 818 area code.
Valley residents and businesses are encouraged to reprogram all mobile phones, fax machines, speed dialers, automatic dialing equipment, call forwarding settings, Internet dial-up numbers, alarm and security systems, voicemail services and related functions to address this change.
In 2007, the North American Numbering Plan Administrator informed the California Public Utilities Commission (the Commission) that the supply of 818 prefixes available for assignment would run out in the third quarter of 2009, compelling the Commission to enact a plan for providing additional telephone numbers. At public hearings throughout the San Fernando Valley, the Commission received feedback from interested parties. The Commission debated implementing a geographic split, but decided against it due to strong opposition from businesses and community groups, as well as the costs and confusion associated with an area code split.
The 747 overlay plan, which adds a new area code prefix to the same geographic region as the 818 area code, was approved in April 2008. All new telephone numbers after May 18th will receive the 747 area code. No one with an 818 area code will change to an 747 area code, but new customers will not have the option to choose an 818 area code.
“Although the 818 area code is synonymous with the identity of the San Fernando Valley, we have nearly run out of usable phone numbers. Valley businesses and residents are being allowed to keep our existing area code, with new numbers receiving a new, overlapping area code. However, even when one is just calling someone down the street, the new dialing procedures must be used in order to complete the call,” said Congressman Sherman. “I encourage everyone to plan accordingly to minimize inconveniences associated with this change.”
Sherman wrote to the Commission on October 12, 2007 in support of the 747 area code overlay as the preferred area code relief alternative. He noted that an area code overlay allows existing customers to keep their numbers while reducing costs to businesses who would otherwise have to change their letterhead, signage, and equipment if the CPUC implemented a 747 area code split in the San Fernando Valley.