Section 7931 Of Chapter 3.5. New Area Codes From California Public Utilities Code >> Division 4. >> Chapter 3.5.
7931
. (a) This chapter is applicable to telephone corporations,
including resellers, and to paging companies, hereafter referred to
as providers.
(b) For purposes of this chapter, "coordinator" means the
"coordinator for California area code relief" as designated by the
North American Numbering Council.
(c) Whenever the coordinator and providers evaluate the potential
boundaries of a new area code, they shall consider rate area
boundaries, municipal boundaries, communities of interest, and other
appropriate criteria.
(d) When the coordinator determines the need to establish a new
area code, at least 30 months prior to the projected opening of the
new area code, the coordinator shall provide written notice to the
commission regarding the need to establish the new area code.
(e) From the date the written notice required by subdivision (d)
is received by the commission all of the following shall be done:
(1) Within three months all providers shall notify all affected
customers in writing of the need to establish a new area code.
Nothing in this paragraph requires a customer to receive in one bill
more than one notice for each billed number.
(2) Within nine months the coordinator and the commission staff
shall conduct at least one meeting for representatives of local
jurisdictions to inform them of the proposed area code relief
options, and to afford them the opportunity to discuss the potential
impact of the proposed options. Following the local jurisdiction
meeting, the coordinator and the commission staff shall conduct at
least three public meetings in the affected geographical area. The
public meetings are to inform members of the public about the
proposed area code relief options, and to afford affected customers
an opportunity to discuss the potential impact of the proposed area
code relief options and measures that may be taken to mitigate any
potential disruptions. The commission may order additional public
meetings to be held at any time.
(3) Within 11 months the coordinator shall file the results of the
area code relief planning process with the commission requesting
commission approval to implement a plan. Anyone may contest the
results of the area code planning process by filing a written protest
with the commission not later than 60 days after the results have
been filed with the commission.
(f) Unless the commission determines otherwise, at least 12 months
prior to the date adopted by the commission for opening the new area
code, all of the following shall be done:
(1) The coordinator shall notify the general public of the
specific geographic area to be included in both the old and new area
codes. The notice shall include the schedule for any transitional
dialing periods required by Section 7932.
(2) Each telephone provider serving the specific geographic area
included in the existing area code shall give written notice to all
its affected customers about the specific geographic area that will
be included in the new area code. The notice shall include the
schedule for any transitional dialing periods required by Section
7932, and the prefixes that will be contained in the new area code.
Nothing in this paragraph requires a customer to receive in one bill
more than one notice for each billed telephone number.
(g) Within three months prior to the adopted date for opening the
new area code, each provider serving the existing area code shall
give written notice to its affected customers of the specific
geographic boundaries of the new area code. The notice shall include
the schedule for any transitional periods required by Section 7932,
and the prefixes that will be contained in the new area code. Nothing
in this paragraph requires a customer to receive in one bill more
than one notice for each billed number.