TO: EDITORS, NEWS DIRECTORS

DATE: March 23, 1999

FOR: IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Perry Baker (602) 542-0844

NEW AREA CODES TAKE EFFECT APRIL 1, 1999

WHAT: The Arizona Corporation Commission wants to remind everyone that the new area codes will be in effect beginning April 1, 1999. The Geographic Split plan was adopted in December, 1998, and provides three area codes for the Valley, preserving geographical identity. The West Valley will receive the new 623 area code, the East Valley will receive 480 and the central Phoenix area will continue to utilize 602. Calls between area codes in the Valley will not be toll calls, and it will not be necessary to first dial a one. For calls made inside the same area code it will not be necessary to first dial that area code.

WHEN/WHERE: Maricopa County: Effective April 1, 1999, permissive dialing begins for the new 480 and 623 area codes. This will allow the caller to dial either the existing or new area code when placing a call. On September 1, 1999, permissive dialing ends and mandatory dialing becomes effective. Calls not using the appropriate area code after September 1 will receive a recorded reminder of the new area code.

EDITORS NOTE: This plan WILL NOT CHANGE. There has been a lot of confusion regarding this issue, but this plan has been in place since December 1998 and will begin April 1, 1999. A complete listing of telephone prefixes and area codes can be found on the ACC web page, at WWW.CC.STATE.AZ.US