Make Plans Now for New Massachusetts Area Codes

May 23, 1997

CONTACT: For information, Joe Zukowski 617-743-1278

Make Plans Now for New Massachusetts Area Codes

BOSTON -- Telephone customers in Massachusetts should begin preparations now
for the two new area codes to be activated in Massachusetts starting later this year.

Under an order issued by the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities,
the existing 617 and 508 area codes will split and half of the customers in Eastern
Massachusetts will change the area code portion of their phone numbers.

The two new area codes -- 781 and 978 -- will help keep pace with consumer
demand for voice lines, fax machines, computers, pagers, and cellular phones, as
well as demand for telephone exchanges from new companies providing local telephone
services in Massachusetts.

Customers should make their preparations now for the new area codes. When
the split is implemented customers will need to dial some local calls differently:

If your area code is changing, here are a few things you can do to ease the
transition to the new codes:

Check with your suppliers to make sure your equipment can handle the two new
area codes:

• PBX systems
• Pagers/beepers
• Cellular phones (Some area codes will change, others will remain the
• same. Check with your cellular carrier to determine if the area code
• split affects you.)
• Customer-owned pay phones
• Medical alert systems
• Fire/Security alarm companies

Tell all the people you deal with locally, nationally or internationally:

• Customers and suppliers
• Business associates
• Friends and relatives

Make sure your new area code appears in all advertising:

• Yellow Pages advertising
• Newspaper/magazine ads
• TV/Radio ads
• Classified ads
• Signage
• Internet sites
• Recorded messages
• Promotional materials (mugs, key chains, pens, etc.)
• Motor Vehicles

Make sure to include your new area code on all printed materials:

• Stationery
• Business cards
• Invoices
• Purchase orders
• Brochures/catalogs/promotional materials
• Product packaging
• Internal records
• Checks
• Company directories
• Labels

NYNEX will automatically reprogram or modify:

• Centrex systems
• Foreign exchange service
• NYNEX White Pages listings (beginning January 1998)
• Remote line
• Voice Messaging
• Call Forwarding II (Busy Line/Don't Answer)
• Blocking services for 550, 554, 900, 920, 940, 976 exchanges

A statewide three-month permissive dialing period beginning September 1 will
enable callers to dial calls using either the old or new dialing patterns.

On December 1, 1997 NYNEX will begin converting its switching centers across
Eastern Massachusetts to accept only the new area codes and dialing pattern. After
each local switch is converted, calls cannot be completed without the correct area
code or dialing pattern. Callers will hear announcements instructing them how to
redial.

The new area codes and dialing pattern will not change telephone service rates.

New Massachusetts Area Codes