With only 10 percent of the area code left, San Diego’s 619 phone numbers are running out.
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) says 619 area code numbers are running out, so new landline customers will get a different area code. Existing customers will keep their current numbers. As of now, there are two proposals:
Option 1: Add a new area code to the region that is currently 619
Option 2: Merge the regions using 619 and 858 area code.
The 619 area code is expected to run out by the first quarter of 2019.
“We (619) have about 75 prefixes left, 858 has plenty of prefixes, so the industry is proposing that we eliminate this boundary and use the prefixes from 858 also in the 619 and some of the 619 prefixes will also be used up in here (858),” said Joe Cocke with the North American Numbering Plan Administration, a third party responsible for forecasting the exhaust of geographic area codes.
The CPUC will hold public meetings to provide information and get input on the introduction of new area codes to the regions now served by the 916, 805, and 619 area codes. The CPUC has started the process to add the 858 area code to the areas now served by the 619 area code, as the 619 area code is expected to use up its available prefixes by March 2019.
In September 2018, 619 area code customers requesting new phone numbers would be assigned the 858 area code. “An alternative to that would be just to add one new area code — just to 619 — and leave 858 alone,” Cocke said.
Bonus video…
Adding the 858 area code to the areas served by the 619 area code is known as a boundary elimination overlay, which will provide additional prefixes and new telephone numbers for the 619 area code customers, according to Terrie Prosper, CPUC spokeswoman.
The boundary elimination overlay, pending CPUC approval, would allow all customers to keep their current phone numbers, including their area code. To avoid service disruption, the 858 area code would be added to the areas served by the 619 area code by September 2018, six months before depletion of prefixes.
The area served by the 619 area code includes the southern portion of the city of San Diego, and the cities of Chula Vista, Coronado, El Cajon, Imperial Beach, La Mesa, Lemon Grove, National City, Santee, and some unincorporated areas of San Diego County.
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