FIND ALTERNATIVE TO SPLITTING 818 CODE, PROTESTERS URGE.

Byline: Dominic Berbeo Staff Writer

News of an impending split of the 818 area code brought new calls Tuesday from the business community for government officials to find an alternative solution to number shortages.

Although the state Public Utilities Commission is implementing a program to make more efficient use of phone numbers that are already available, a backup plan to separate the southwestern Valley with a 747 area code may be inevitable, officials said Monday.

The Valley Industry and Commerce Association has taken a strong stance favoring an overlay rather than a split of the 818 area.

``We're upset the way the whole issue was handled,'' said Ellen Fitzmaurice, who co-chairs VICA's telecommunications and technology committee. ``We think an overlay is the least obtrusive solution because not one single home or business would have to change their number.'' The overlay code would be assigned just to new telephone accounts.

She said the argument that a split would eliminate the need for 11-digit dialing is false because ``half the Valley would be in the new area code anyway.''

But if a new area code is inevitable, she said, the bright side is that 747 is a relatively memorable one, easily identifiable with the well-known 747 jet plane.

Jacqueline Goldman, the owner of wholesale flower markets in Canoga Park and Reseda, shared VICA's concern.

``I don't want a new area code or an overlay,'' she said. ``If government can come up with alternative plans in the 310 area and deal with it, then the 818 area can deal with it, too.''

A proposed split of the 818 area code was halted last month by the Public Utilities Commission, which ordered instead that phone companies take steps to conserve numbers.

The efficiency plan includes issuing new numbers to phone companies in blocks of 1,000, rather than 10,000, and requiring the phone companies to return unused numbers.

As many as 145 million phone numbers allocated to phone companies have not been used, according to the commission.

When all resources were exhausted, the commission would decide whether to implement the new 747 area code, commission spokeswoman Kyle DeVine said.

``There will be notice well in advance,'' she said, adding that the commission will soon decide exactly how much notice to give.

City Councilwoman Laura Chick called for the commission also to look at other options.

``Splitting portions of the San Fernando Valley into a separate area code could unduly burden businesses and residents,'' Chick said in a letter Tuesday to other council members. ``Alternatives may be available that have not been explored which would keep the entire City of Los Angeles portion of the Valley in the 818 area code.''

Chick's comments are scheduled to be considered by the full council next week.

Steven Gallegos, the government relations chairman for the San Fernando Valley Chamber of Commerce, said the government should focus on preventing a plethora of new area codes in the future.

``If businesses could be assured that this will be the only new area code for the next few decades, then I think they would accept it much easier,'' he said.

Staff Writer Rick Orlov contributed to this story.

CAPTION(S):

map

Map: Proposed new 747 area code

Daily News