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January 23, 1997 CONTACT: Boston -- Jack Hoey (617) 743-3677 Outside Boston -- Your local NYNEX media representative NYNEX says long distance carriers plan will force one million Mass. customers to change numbers BOSTON -- Jan. 23, 1997 -- NYNEX expressed disappointment that a geographic split method will be used for implementing two new area codes in Eastern Massachusetts. New area codes are needed to keep pace with the unprecedented demand for new phone numbers. "Were very disappointed with the geographic split, which was heavily supported by AT&T, Continental Cablevision, MCI and others," said Thomas DeSisto, NYNEX regulatory affairs managing director. "This is the most disruptive, costly and confusing option for customers, requiring more than a million customers to change their numbers." NYNEX, along with several cellular companies, favored a new approach recently adopted in Pennsylvania and Maryland that would have prevented the need for customers to change their existing phone numbers. With this geographic overlay solution, new area codes could be phased in as needed, using the current 617 and 508 geography. "The cable and long-distance companies have forced a major, costly inconvenience on Massachusetts consumers," DeSisto said. NYNEX will work with the commission and the industry to implement the split as quickly as possible. Just as the 617 area code was geographically split into the 617 and 508 area codes in 1988, the 617 area code will be split again into 617 and 781 area codes. Similarly, the 508 area code will be geographically split into the 508 and 978 area codes. "A split creates only a Band-Aid solution to the number shortage, as the supply of available numbers will deplete again in a few years," DeSisto predicted. "We believe the overlay plan would provide a better long term solution for Massachusetts." A statewide three-month permissive dialing period, beginning February 1, 1998, will enable callers to dial calls using either the old area code or the new area code until May 1, 1998. "This period will help customers get used to the new area codes," DeSisto said. NYNEX also will notify customers of the introduction of the new area codes through a customer education program beginning May 1, 1997. The new area codes will not change telephone service rates. The full text of the Massachusetts Dept. of Public Utilities decision can be downloaded from the DPU home page at: http://www.magnet.state.ma.us/dpu. NYNEX is a global communications and media corporation that provides a full range of services in the northeastern United States and high-growth markets around the world, including the United Kingdom, Thailand, Gibraltar, Greece, Indonesia, the Philippines, Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. The corporation is a leader in telecommunications, wireless communications, directory publishing and video entertainment and information services. NYNEX is also managing sponsor of FLAG -- Fiberoptic Link Around the Globe -- the world's longest undersea fiber optic communications cable. FAX copies of recent NYNEX news releases are available free of charge, 24 hours a day. Call 1-800-331-1214 and an automated system will provide instructions. go to news archive