Area code changes in store for the Valley

April 17, 4:44 PMSan Fernando Valley ExaminerWyatt Shev

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Come May 18th, life will get just that little bit more difficult for residents of the San Fernando Valley, as a new telephone area code makes its debut.

The glory days of '818' numbers in the Valley are drawing to a close. Although existing residents and business will keep the familiar '818' that precedes their number , a '1' will now have to be added before the code- a measure intended to separate numbers in greater Los Angeles from those in the Valley.

In addition, all new phone lines and services in the Valley will receive a '747' area code, as opposed to '818'. The California Public Utilities Commission assures that calls between 747 and 818 area codes WILL NOT be considered long-distance.

Adding an extra digit to existing San Fernando Valley telephone numbers promises to be a mighty nuisance. Automatic dialling systems utilizing a  7-digit number will need to be re-programmed to process the additional digit. Expect problems with voicemail systems, fax numbers, security gates and call forwarding services as consumers slowly come around to embracing the extra digit in their lives.

The 747 code has been proposed to answer telecommunications problems caused by the Valley's burgeoning population. Although it may make life difficult for a little while, it's a necessary evil that Valley residents must endure.