Like grains of sand or stars in the sky, most people feel there's no end to the supply of telephone numbers.

No so.

"The truth is, the reserve of telephone numbers in the 717 area is diminishing at an astonishing rate," said Bill Harral, president of Bell Atlantic-Pennsylvania. He estimates that the 717 area code will run out of available phone numbers in mid-1998.

"We must act now," Harral said.

How do you come up with new phone numbers?

Bell Atlantic will propose to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission a plan called an "overlay." With an overlay, a new area code would be added within the same geographic boundaries as those of the 717 area code. Existing phone numbers in the 717 area would begin with "717" followed by seven digits, while new phone numbers in the same area would have the new area code followed by the seven-digit number.

"The advantage of the overlay is that it doesn't slice municipalities in half, and it doesn't force anyone to change his or her phone number," said Harral.

The shortage of telephone numbers is triggered by the explosive popularity of cellular telephones, multiple residential phone lines, pagers, fax machines and modems. Further demand for numbers results from the entrance of new companies seeking to provide local service. Harral noted that in 1995 Bell Atlantic assigned some 440,000 new phone numbers in the 717 area. Already in the first five months of 1996 the company assigned 410,000 numbers, and it predicts that number could reach 800,000 by the year's end.

The overlay does come with one necessary dialing change. Once it's introduced, all callers will need to dial the full ten-digit telephone number (three-digit area code plus the seven digit number) for all calls -- an eventuality which is unavoidable in Pennsylvania, said Harral. "Because we need so many new phone numbers, ten-digit dialing is becoming a way of life in this country. By implementing an overlay, we will put Pennsylvania in the forefront in meeting the demand for phone numbers."

The 717 area code extends through central and northeast Pennsylvania including Harrisburg, the Susquehanna Valley and the Poconos.

Will a new area code change toll rates? "Absolutely not," said Harral. "A local call will remain a local call, even if it's in the new overlay area code."

Harral noted that a less desirable alternative is to split the 717 area, assigning a new area code to the split-off portion. The downside of the "geographic split" is that "communities of interest are divided and more than a million telephone numbers would have to change," said Harral. Businesses in the new area code would have to change numbers on stationery, business cards, catalogs, promotional material and company vehicles. Businesses and other customers throughout the old and new area codes would incur expenses to reprogram equipment such as cellular phones and burglar alarms.

Further, while businesses assigned to the new area code would bear the hardship of changing their telephone numbers, their competitors remaining in the current area code would not.

Another disadvantage of the geographic split is that business and residence customers dialing between the old and new area codes would have to dial eleven digits (one plus the area code plus the seven-digit number).

"After studying all the issues, we believe the overlay is the most practical and the least disruptive approach to meeting the growing need for phone numbers. Clearly, it's in the best interests of all customers," said Harral.

Bell Atlantic Corporation (NYSE: BEL) is at the forefront of the new communications, entertainment and information industry. In the mid-Atlantic region, the company is the premier provider of local telecommunications and advanced services. Globally, it is one of the largest investors in the high-growth wireless communication marketplace. Bell Atlantic also owns a substantial interest in Telecom Corporation of New Zealand and is actively developing high-growth national and international business opportunities in all phases of the industry.

Media contact:

Shirley Risoldi, 412-633-5574
shirley.a.risoldi@bell-atl.com

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