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-
- Here is a press release from BC Tel, formerly the British Columbia
- Telephone Company. I found the press release on the company's WWW site
- at <http://www.bctel.net/news-16.html>. The map referred to in the
- press release is at <http://www.bctel.net/bcmap.html>.
-
- May 9, 1995
-
- BRITISH COLUMBIA TO GET SECOND AREA CODE
-
- Burnaby, B.C. - BC TEL will introduce a second area code for British
- Columbia in 1996.
-
- This new area code - 250 - will apply to all regions of the province
- outside the Lower Mainland, the Sunshine Coast, Whistler and Hope.
- Map attached ( jpeg)
-
- "British Columbia needs a second area code because more telephone
- numbers than ever are needed to accommodate our growing population,
- as well as the increasing number of pagers, fax machines, modems
- and cellular phones," said Dale Reid, BC TEL's manager of network
- planning. "Introducing a second area code will open up millions
- of new telephone numbers in the province."
-
- Here is the timetable for the implementation of a new area code:
-
- October 1996
-
- The 250 area code will be introduced. Callers dialing a telephone
- number in the new area code region will still be able to use either
- 604 or 250 to complete the call.
-
- May 1997
-
- The grace dialing period will end. If the wrong area code is
- dialed, a recording will advise callers to hang up and dial the
- correct code.
-
- October 1997
-
- Both area codes will be in full service. Callers dialling 604
- to reach a customer in the 250 area code region will hear a recording
- that will advise them the call cannot be completed and to verify
- the telephone number.
-
- BC TEL is encouraging businesses in the 250 area code region to
- communicate with customers and suppliers about their new area code,
- and to ensure that all advertising and stationery has updated
- telephone numbers in time for the October 1996 introduction. In
- addition, long-distance telephone numbers in the new area code region
- that are currently stored in equipment, such as fax machines, cellular
- telephones and automatic diallers, will need to be reprogrammed before
- May 1997.
-
- "The introduction of a second area code will help serve the growing
- telecommunications needs of British Columbians for the next 20 years,"
- added Reid.
-
- The new area code will have no impact on BC TEL's long-distance rates.
- Customers who have questions about the new area code can call
- 1-800-661-7202.
-
- For more information, please contact:
-
- Michelle Gagne
- Media relations manager
- (604) 432-2949 (office), (604) 977-5875 (pager)
-
-