Judge Sets Hearing on Proposed Area Code Split

An administrative law judge has set a date for a pre-hearing conference about the proposed 818 and 626 area code split.

The session is open to the public, although the general public is not allowed to speak at this meeting. It will be held July 22 at 10 a.m. at the Pasadena City Hall Council Chambers, 100 N. Garfield Ave., Room 247.

Because the region is running out of phone numbers, the proposed area code split is supposed to begin by June 1997, and Pacific Bell has recommended splitting the 818 area code at Burbank, with the new 626 area code running eastward into the San Gabriel Valley.

But the cities of Burbank and Glendale have teamed up to try and be kept in the 818 area code, as has the community of Monterey Park.

At the conference, Administrative Law Judge Philip Weismehl will set a schedule to take evidence from both sides, and he may hear testimony as well.

Eventually, the judge will recommend to the state Public Utilities Commission where the area code split should occur, and more public hearings will be held before the PUC makes its final decision.