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             California Public Utilities Commission
505 Van Ness Avenue, Room 5301            San Francisco, CA 94102
CONTACT: Dianne Dienstein             November 6, 1996  CPUC - 85
         415-703-2423

            FIRST PHONE PREFIX LOTTERY FOR CALIFORNIA

          In probably the largest phone number prefix lottery in
the nation, California's first lottery, held on October 23,
issued prefixes to 13 companies for 310, 415, and 619 area codes.
Nine companies are on a prioritized waiting list and will receive
one prefix prior to the next lottery.
          The 310, 415 and 619 area codes are rapidly running out
of phone numbers.  Until new area codes can be assigned to the
areas now served by them, the California Public Utilities
Commission (CPUC) has ordered prefixes rationed through periodic
lotteries.
          At the October 23 lottery, the CPUC Telecommunications
Division in conjunction with the California Code Administrator
allotted 60 percent of the prefixes to companies requesting them
for the first time, and 40 percent to companies already serving
the areas.
O  310 area code - three first time companies applied for 16
   prefixes, and four companies already serving that area code
   applied for seven.  Six prefixes were drawn in the lottery.
O  415 area code - four first time companies applied for 10
   prefixes, and five existing companies applied for 12.  Six
   prefixes were drawn in the lottery.
O  619 area code - two first time companies applied for 8
   prefixes, and nine existing companies applied for 22.  Four
   prefixes were drawn in the lottery.
                            - more -
          New area code 562 for the 310 area, new area code 760
for the 619 area, and new area code 650 for the 415 area will
open next year.
          A prefix lottery will be held on the 3rd Tuesday of
each month until the new area codes are fully implemented.
Prefixes in the 562 area code will be drawn at the next lottery
on November 19, and those in the 760 area code will be drawn in
January.

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