TO: EDITORS, NEWS DIRECTORS

DATE: February 21, 2001

FOR: IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Portions of Arizona To Get 928 Area Code

PHOENIX - The Arizona Corporation Commission last week decided on a plan to split the 520 area code territory. The Commission's action preserves the 520 area code in Tucson and parts of southern Arizona. Pinal, Pima, Santa Cruz and Cochise counties will retain the 520 area code, with the exception of a few small areas where rate centers cross county lines. The rest of Arizona, including Yuma County, will get the new 928 area code.

The 928 area code was selected by the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA), which oversees the assignment of area codes for the United States and its territories, Canada, Bermuda and 16 Caribbean nations. Care is taken to choose a number that is unlike any other nearby area codes. This helps eliminate dialing confusion and the possibility of incorrectly dialed numbers. NANPA also avoids using a number that is already assigned as a prefix in the existing area code territory - to eliminate confusing combinations like 928-928-XXXX or 520-520-XXXX.

Arizona residents will be able to use the new area code in June. Between now and June, the telecommunications industry will be setting up their systems to recognize the new area code. Calls will go through using either area code between June 23, 2001 and January 5, 2002. This is called a "permissive dialing period." Callers who use the old area code after January 5, 2002 will hear a message directing them to hang up and dial again using the new number. The Commission's Order requires the telecommunications industry to implement a comprehensive education program to inform the public of the upcoming change.

Competition in telecommunications and the rapid proliferation of cellular phones, pagers, fax machines and enhanced Internet services are just a few of the reasons that supply of available numbers is dwindling. As the supply of available numbers shrinks, new area codes must be introduced to meet the demand.

For more information about the 520 area code matter, check the Commission's website at www.cc.state.az.us. A map showing the 520 area code and the new territory can be found at http://www.cc.state.az.us/utility/newarea/index.htm.