319 Area Code
CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA
MEMORANDUM
November 2, 2000
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Area Code
The Iowa Utility Board has decided that the City of Dubuque area code will be changed from
319. The new area code is expected to be activated in March, 2001, with a transitional d~al area
code through September.
MCVM/jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
Tim Moerman, Assistant City Manager
Pauline Joyce, Administrative Services Manager
Merrill Crawford, Cable Franchise Administrator
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CITY OF Dl
MEM(
CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE
MIKE VAN MILLIGEN. CITY MANAGER
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October 30, 2000
MEMO TO: Management Team
FROM: Merrill Cravvford, Cable Franchise Administrato~
SUBJECT: Area Code 319 Changing
---- INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this memorandum is to alert you to Friday's decision by
the Iowa Utilities Board to implement a geographic split of current Area Code 319, and the
likely impact of this decision and the City's pending selection ofa new telephone system on our
'_--n---------clliTent-teTephone numbers. -- ------- --------.----.-.--- -'-
BACKGROUND: There will be a lot of news media coverage in the coming days and weeks
about Friday's decision by the Iowa Utilities Board to implement a "geographic split" solution to
the problem of the pending exhaustion of the available supply of telephone numbers in the
current 319 Area Code. On the attached map, the zone marked "A" will retain Area Code 319.
The zone marked "B", which includes Dubuque and the Quad Cities, will be assigned a new
Area Code. The new Area Code number is not yet known.
We can expect to receive more detailed advice from the IUB and telephone companies as to the
practical impact of this decision and their recommended procedures for adjusting to that impact.
The agency will continue to publicize the change as telephone companies reprogram their
switching equipment and reprint phone directories. As with businesses, institutions and
organizations in the affected area, the City of Dubuque will eventually need to reprogram speed-
dialers, fax machines, modems and other devices, and reprint letterhead, business cards,
brochures, and a variety of other directory and advertising materials to reflect the Area Code
change. The new Area Code is expected to be activated in March, 2001. Both the current and
new Area Codes will continue to fimction throughout a transitional "permissive dialing period"
lasting until early September, after which only the new Area Code will work.
We can observe a similar process currently underway in the central part of the state, where Area
Code 515 was split to add Area Code 641 this year.
Be aware also that the task force studying proposals for a new telephone system for City
buildings will soon make its recommendation to the City Manager, and that most of the
proposals under consideration would include changes to many City office telephone numbers.
Again, system implementation and number conversion would utilize a lengthy transitional period
where both old and new numbers work together, or where old numbers automatically bridge to
the new ones. Our intent will be to coordinate the timing of these local number changes with the
Area Code 319 changes, so that the formidable task of updating directories and printed materials
can be accomplished as efficiently as possible, at reasonable cost.
REQUESTED ACTION: The Requested Actions at this time are:
1) that you help keep all City employees generally aware of the coming impact of the Area Code
319 change and of the likelihood of significant local telephone number changes for City
offices within the next year, and share details as they become available, and
2) that you begin to develop an inventory within your departments of the various printed
documents, directories, advertisements, etc. that would need to be changed in the event of
telephone number changes in your offices. While there is no particular urgency, it would be
prudent to reconsider any large quantity printing orders for these items bearing your current
---phone numbers in the immediate future unless it is likely such quantities would be consumed
through normal use within the next six months or so. Keep this in mind when planning the
purchase of small giveaway items for City Expo, also.
While telephone number conversions as a result of new Area Codes and new telephone systems
are never fun, they are very common these days. The phone companies and state regulators
have developed proven methodologies to help business and government customers like ourselves
make the transition. As we learn more, I'll keep you advised.
r
TWO-WAY
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Alternative #12
SPLIT
NPA 319 Rate Center Map
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NPA Boundaries
Rato Center Boundarios
I PROJECTED LIVES I
PROJECTED LIVES
4 Years
10 Years
- - - Split line
Produced by CDS Business Mapping 313012000