Judge Favors Split Instead of Overlay in 818 Area Code

A state administrative law judge has recommended a plan to divide the 818 area code geographically but delay the split’s implementation to consider techniques that would conserve telephone numbers.

The draft decision, issued by Judge Thomas R. Pulsifer, reverses his earlier tentative one calling for an overlay area code in the San Fernando Valley.

Pulsifer said he changed his mind after receiving letters from residents and business owners in the 310 region, where residents have been forced to dial their area code to make local calls--a precondition of an overlay area code planned for that region.

“There had been a significant number of customers in the 310 area code expressing their disagreement with 10-digit dialing there, and 818 is adjacent to 310,” Pulsifer said.

Pulsifer’s decision is not final, and the state Public Utilities Commission may vote for a split, an overlay or an alternative proposal in the 818 area code. The five-member panel is expected to vote Sept. 16.

With a split of 818, officials said, four Valley-area exchanges--in Agoura, Canoga Park, Reseda and Van Nuys--would get a new area code, while the remaining 12 Valley exchanges would retain the 818 code.

Pulsifer said there was a strong desire among customers to divide the Valley to keep seven-digit dialing, rather than suffer the inconvenience of dialing more digits for local calls as required with an overlay.

Opposition to the overlay had mounted since June 30, when Pulsifer first recommended that the PUC adopt an overlay plan rather than split the 818 area.

The overlay is opposed by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, the Los Angeles City Council, City Atty. James K. Hahn, the Utility Reform Network and the Utility Consumer Action Network, as well as Assemblyman Wally Knox (D-Los Angeles) and state Sen. Richard Alarcon (D-Sylmar).

Telecommunications companies, including Pacific Bell, GTE, MCI, AT&T; and MediaOne Telecommunications, say a split or an overlay is needed to accommodate a continuing surge in demand for telephone lines.

Pac Bell and GTE, the two largest companies in Los Angeles, are pressing for an area code overlay because it would add 7.9 million numbers to the calling area, company officials said.

Business groups, including the California Small Business Assn., the Valley Industry and Commerce Assn. and the San Fernando Valley United Chambers of Commerce, prefer an overlay because businesses would avoid the expense of changing stationery, advertisements and Web sites and notifying clients of the new area code.