Important information for callers to Connecticut; PBX users may need to update equipment.

NEW HAVEN, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 21, 1995-- Driven by the national introduction of new format area codes, businesses across the country may need to update their PBX (private branch exchange) telephone systems if they are to make and receive calls.

New area codes are being assigned throughout the entire country due to the rapid rate of assignment of telephone numbers, largely boosted by the growing popularity of cellular telephones, pagers, fax machines, computer modems, and additional lines in homes and offices. A second area code was recently introduced in Connecticut. For those who call Connecticut, particularly the northern and eastern parts of the state, the new area code, 860, became effective in the counties of Litchfield, Hartford, Tolland, Windham, New London and Middlesex -(a), on August 28. The southwestern part of Connecticut (Fairfield and New Haven counties) will retain the 203 area code.

-(a) Exceptions include customers in the towns of Roxbury and Oxford, served by Woodbury telephone, who will retain 203. Customers in the towns of Bethlehem and Woodbury will also retain 203 except those with Watertown telephone numbers, who will take on 860.

All area codes being assigned throughout the nation this year, including 860 in Connecticut, are non-traditional or new format area codes, meaning their middle digit is not 1 or 0. Prior to January, 1995, all area codes were required to have 1 or 0 as the middle digit.

It is especially important for businesses calling Connecticut and other areas with new format area codes to realize that some PBX systems cannot recognize new format area codes. Businesses using older PBX s, as well as electronic telephone sets, alarm systems, fax machines, modems or auto-dial systems may need to reprogram and possibly upgrade their equipment to accommodate not only Connecticut s new area code, but all newly assigned new format area codes throughout the country.

SNET encourages businesses that use such specialized phone systems to find out if their equipment is compatible with new format area codes by calling the equipment vendor who provides and maintains the equipment.

Some states already have these new format codes, western Washington and southern Alabama, for example. Businesses in these states have experienced problems when callers with outdated PBX equipment within and outside of these areas have tried to reach them by dialing the new format area codes. As a result, calls have been unable to get through to these businesses. By the end of this year, at least 14 states will have new format area codes and many more states will implement them in 1996. More than 40 new format area codes will be established in North America over the next ten years.

Also, in April, 1996, the new format, toll-free 888 area code will be introduced in the United States and Canada, to supplement the exhausting nationwide toll-free 800 area code. These changes could also affect your calling. On August 28, a transition, or permissive dialing period will begin in Connecticut. During this time, callers should begin using 860 to dial telephone numbers in the six Connecticut counties where the new area code has been assigned. During the transition period, calls dialed with a 203 area code into these counties will continue to be completed. The transition period will last until all remaining numbers in the 203 area code are depleted, which is estimated to occur in early October, 1996.

One of the purposes of the transition period is to give businesses, both within and outside of Connecticut, the opportunity to implement any necessary changes to their telecommunications equipment.

SNET encourages business customers throughout the nation to have their telecommunications equipment checked for compatibility with new format area codes as soon as possible. If equipment is not compatible, it will become increasingly difficult to reach various numbers throughout the nation and in many cases, within your own state, as more and more new format area codes are assigned throughout the country.

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FAIRFIELD COUNTY

Bethel
Bridgeport
Brookfield
Danbury
Darien
Easton
Fairfield
Greenwich
Monroe
New Canaan
New Fairfield
Newtown
Norwalk
Redding
Ridgefield
Shelton
Sherman
Stamford
Stratford
Trumbull
Weston
Westport
Wilton

HARTFORD COUNTY

Avon
Berlin
Bloomfield
Bristol
Burlington
Canton
East Granby
East Hartford
East Windsor
Enfield
Farmington
Glastonbury
Granby
Hartford
Hartland
Manchester
Marlborough
New Britain
Newington
Plainville
Rocky Hill
Simsbury
Southington
South Windsor
Suffield
West Hartford
Wethersfield
Windsor
Windsor Locks

LITCHFIELD COUNTY

Barkhamsted
Bethlehem
Bridgewater
Canaan
Colebrook
Cornwall
Goshen
Harwington
Kent
Litchfield
Morris
New Hartford
New Milford
Norfolk
North Canaan
Plymouth
Roxbury
Salisbury
Sharon
Thomaston
Torrington
Warren
Washington
Watertown
Winchester
Woodbury

MIDDLESEX COUNTY

Chester
Clinton
Cromwell
Deep River
Durham
East Haddam
East Hampton
Essex
Haddam
Killingworth
Middlefield
Middletown
Old Saybrook
Portland
Westbrook

NEW HAVEN COUNTY

Ansonia
Beacon Falls
Bethany
Branford
Cheshire
Derby
East Haven
Guilford
Hamden
Madison
Meriden
Middlebury
Milford
Naugatuck
New Haven
North Branford
North Haven
Orange
Oxford
Prospect
Seymour
Southbury
Wallingford
Waterbury
West Haven
Wolcott
Woodbridge

NEW LONDON COUNTY

Bozrah
Colchester
East Lyme
Franklin
Griswold
Groton
Lebanon
Ledyard
Lisbon
Lyme
Montville
New London
North Stonington
Norwich
Old Lyme
Preston
Salem
Sprague
Stonington
Voluntown
Waterford

TOLLAND COUNTY

Andover
Bolton
Columbia
Coventry
Ellington
Hebron
Mansfield
Somers
Stafford
Tolland
Union
Vernon
Willington

WINDHAM COUNTY

Ashford
Brooklyn
Canterbury
Chaplin
Eastford
Hampton
Killingly
Plainfield
Pomfret
Putnam
Scotland
Sterling
Thompson
Windham
Woodstock

CONTACT: SNET

Mary Simmons, 203/771-2688