public comment

COMMISSION NEWS
ARIZONA CORPORATION COMMISSION 1200 W. WASHINGTON STREET PHOENIX, AZ 85007
TO: EDITORS, NEWS DIRECTORS		DATE: February 4, 1998
FOR: IMMEDIATE RELEASE		CONTACT: David Motycka (602) 542-0850

ACC INVITES PUBLIC COMMENT ON AREA CODE SPLIT
The Arizona Corporation Commission will hold three public comment meetings this month to hear public comment regarding the pending split of the 602 area code.
The dates, times and locations of the meetings are as follows:

Northwest Valley	Wednesday, February 11, 1998 at 6:30 p.m. Sun Dial Auditorium, Social Hall #1 Lakeside 10626 W. Thunderbird Rd., Sun City
North Valley	Thursday, February 19, 1998 at 6:30 p.m. Mustang Library 10101 N. 90^th St., Scottsdale
East Valley	Tuesday, February 24, 1998 at 6:30 p.m. Pyle Recreation Center 655 E. Southern (Southern Ave. & Rural Rd.), Tempe

The Commission held a public comment meeting in Phoenix on January 26, 1998 and may schedule additional meetings at a later date.

An industry report projects that numbers in the 602 area code will be exhausted in late 1999 if no action is taken. Though industry members have differing opinions on the best plan to alleviate number exhaust, the Arizona Numbering

Plan Area Administrator has recommended that the Commission implement an "overlay" plan. The new area code has not yet been assigned. Potential solutions under consideration by the Commission are:

1. OVERLAY - Under this plan, the industry would assign the new area code to new telephone numbers. Existing telephone numbers would keep the 602 area code. Use of the overlay plan would require 10-digit dialing (area code plus phone number) for all local calls.

2. GEOGRAPHIC SPLIT - Under this plan, a portion of the Phoenix metropolitan area would keep the 602 area code. The remainder of the existing 602 area would be issued the new area code.

The Commission is also considering number conservation measures that would temporarily delay the need to utilize a new area code. Such measures include number pooling.

The Commission's Utilities Division is currently analyzing the Numbering Plan Administrator's report and will recommend action to the Commissioners. The Commission is expected to make a final decision later this spring.

COMMISSION NEWS