Odds Against Wireless-Only Area Codes

Mobile Phone News,  June 7, 1999  

Tags: FCC, Government, Wi-Fi, WIRELESS

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Don't include wireless carriers in the list of concerned parties after the FCC included the option of wireless-only overlay area codes in its list of possible number-conservation measures.

"There's a long history of the FCC ruling against technologyspecific overlays," says Dan Mullin, Bell Atlantic Mobile's [BEL], staff director of government relations. "I don't see any reason why the FCC would change its position."

In addition to considering technology-specific area codes, the notice of proposed rulemaking by the Common Carrier and Wireless Telecommunications bureaus proposes distributing telephone numbers to telecommunications carriers in blocks of 1,000 instead of 10,000, and requiring carriers to purchase numbers.

The notice also asks for comments on changing the telecommunications industry's guidelines for number allocation, on requiring rate center consolidation and on making 10-digit dialing mandatory. Comments also are sought on allowing carriers to choose methods for meeting number conservation standards and on how the FCC can work with states to more efficiently administer area codes. Comments are due by July 31 and reply comments by Aug. 31.

...Number Distribution Is The Problem

The FCC has denied petitions for technology-specific area codes in the Chicago area and in Texas since allowing the 917 overlay area code to be opened in New York City as wireless only in 1995. Although that was intended to slow the depletion of numbers in the 212 area code in the city, wireline numbers eventually were added to the 917 code after the 212 code reached exhaust.

FCC officials say opening an overlay area code for wireless phones and pagers doesn't slow the use of numbers by wireline local exchange carriers in the overlaid area code. Phone numbers are distributed in blocks of 10,000 to each carrier providing service in each rate center within an area code. Competitive local exchange carriers around the country typically have far more numbers under this system than they have customers; consequently, millions of numbers remain unused by customers but are still unavailable.

"We can't simply continue to add area codes in the country," Jared Carlson, Common Carrier Bureau staff member told the commissioners. "They will at some point run out."

Opening technology-specific area codes won't conserve numbers, Mullin says. "It only puts off dealing with the problem a little longer," he says.

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