Split vs Overlay

Before 1995, the middle digit of an area code was either one or zero. That s no longer the case. The need for more numbers necessitated allowing other numbers as middle digits .

The increase in the number of ways to reach people (like fax, cellular, PCS, pagers and the Internet) is responsible for the sudden growth in the demand for phone numbers. As existing area codes become saturated with phone numbers, more have to be added.

New area codes mean that security systems, programmable phones, modems and all devices that have automatic dialing mechanisms need to be reprogrammed, including your PBX or key system.

The area code undergoing the world s greatest change is 809, which had served as a catch-all way to reach tropical destinations like Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Now the territory is being split into 17 new area codes so that each island will have its own area code.

Some US territories, like Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, will get area codes for the first time. Their international country dialing codes became their area codes.

Area Code Implementation

There are two ways a new area code can be introduced. The best and least disruptive method is to overlay it over the existing area code. A more expensive and inconvenient implementation splits the geographic area that the existing are code serves and assigns part of it to a new area code.

Overlays mean all local callers have to dial 10...