Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!accuvax.nwu.edu!nucsrl!telecom-request From: "John R. Covert 09-Jan-1990 0002" Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: How To Dial Long Distance Message-ID: <2724@accuvax.nwu.edu> Date: 8 Jan 90 13:04:32 GMT Sender: news@accuvax.nwu.edu Organization: TELECOM Digest Lines: 123 Approved: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 15, message 8 of 8 From: Greg Monti, National Public Radio; forwarded by John R. Covert How to Dial Long Distance Mark Brader writes: > Our moderator writes: >> ... area codes *as we know them* will be used up is 1995. I think 1993 >> might be a better estimate. From that point on, area codes will resemble >> prefixes, and dialing 1 before long distance numbers everywhere will be >> mandatory. ... > Presumably by "long distance" he meant here "to another area code". Actually, one or both can currently apply. My understanding of the North American Numbering Plan is that a leading "1" was *always* intended to mean "area code next." The use of it with a seven-digit number after it is a hack implemented by phone companies originally as a "get out of this central office" code in the old, step- by-step days in many areas. Later, as people got used to it meaning "long distance next," the telcos and their regulators kept the "1" for that purpose. 1+7 digits only works FROM area codes where there are no interchangeable codes (prefixes that look like area codes). Once interchangeable codes are implemented, users within that area code can no longer use 1+7 digits. Once the *whole NANP* goes to interchangeable codes in 1995 (or whenever "Time T" it turns out to be), 1+7 digit dialing will have to be eliminated in *all* NANP area codes. > The thing that most distresses me about this whole > area-code exhaustion business is that it'll mean that we'll LOSE the > possibility of a leading 1 ACTUALLY meaning, as it still does where I > am, "long distance". Not necessarily. The standard seems to have been laid out already. Those places will go to your "Syntax 3" system so BOTH effects of the "1" will apply. "1" will mean "long distance" *and* "area code next." 1+7 digits will be replaced by 1+10 digits. > To be complete I should mention Syntax 4, which I think was formerly > common and is becoming rare: leading 1 is never used, and one dials > NNX-XXXX for any call within one's area, 10 digits for calls to other > areas. You are correct. See below. > Can anyone comment on the relative prevalence of the four syntaxes > that I have called 1, 2, 3, and 4 in North America, or better yet, > actually provide a list of what areas use what syntax? (Note: My > interest here is in major operating companies, not, say, Pinnacles.) Okay. First a summary: Syntax 1: Local within area code: 7 digits Toll within area code: 1 + 7 digits Local to another area code: 7 digits Toll to another area code: 1 + 10 digits Syntax 2: Local within area code: 7 digits Toll within area code: 7 digits Local outside area code: 1 + 10 digits Toll outside area code: 1 + 10 digits Syntax 3: Local within area code: 7 digits Toll within area code: 1 + 10 digits Local outside area code: 7 digits Toll outside area code: 1 + 10 digits Syntax 4: Local within area code: 7 digits Toll within area code: 7 digits Local outside area code: 10 digits Toll outside area code: 10 digits "Syntax 1" is the most common in the USA and Canada. It generally applies in areas and states and provinces where the area codes are so large that most, or many calls within it are toll. Population density is small enough that prefixes can be assigned in a "conserved" way, so that prefixes in nearby parts of adjacent area codes are not ambiuguous with the same prefixes in the home area code. This allows 7 digit dialing across the area code boundary, but only for local calls. VIRTUALLY ALL places that now have Syntax 1 dialing will convert to Syntax 3 dialing in 1995, or whenever "Time T" is. Massachusetts' 617 is currently a variation on Syntax 1 (local outside area code is now 1 + 10 digits) which will change to Syntax 2 eventually, according to previous posttings on this Digest. Neighboring 508 has the same Syntax 1 exception, but is staying that way indefinitely. Michigan's 313 is a Syntax 1 area code moving to Syntax 2. There, the 1 + 7 digits has become a mess, with some local calls requiring it and Michigan Bell is going to straighten it out by eliminating 1 + 7 digits. "Syntax 2" is used in the biggest of the big cities where many area codes may be within the local calling area and where mandatory local measured service is common and where interchangeable codes are now used. Most places with Syntax 2 now had Syntax 4 up until about 1980 when the first interchangeable codes were issued as prefixes. Syntax 2 areas are 213 (and the new 310, when implemented), 818, 415 (and 510), 212, 718, 201 (and 908), 312 and 708, I believe. Area 609 in New Jersey is a variation of Syntax 2. Its exception: local calls outside the area code are also 7 digits. "Syntax 3" is the "new standard" for after "Time T". It is already in effect in 404, 919, 703, 202, 301, 214 (and the new 903?) and soon 416. Some areas which use this already are adding variations due to the number crunch: 214, 202, 301 and 703 will use 10 digits for local outside area code. That appears to be a new standard for crowded areas already using Syntax 3. "Syntax 4" is a rarity: places that still don't have interchangeable codes but do have large calling areas with mandatory local measured service. 516, 914 (maybe not all of it, though) and 408. Syntax 4 areas switch to Syntax 2 after "Time T". Did I get everything? Greg Monti, Arlington, Virginia work +1 202 822-2459