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From:     cmoore@brl.mil
Subject:  guide
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                         TELECOM Digest Guide to
                        North American Area Codes
                        =========================
                             November 4, 1991



FIRST, PLEASE TAKE NOTE THAT the information appearing herein has been
placed in the public domain. It can be copied and distributed freely.
While prepared for, and intended as a service to the USENET community,
anyone is free to copy it and use/distribute it. Please credit TELECOM
Digest, and our correspondents named herein in any republication.

This guide is in several parts:

   1) Numerical listing of area codes; major cities served by each or
      state name, where area code serves entire state or province.

   2) Listing and discussion of SAC's (Special Area Codes) which do
      not relate to the voice telephone network or do relate to the
      voice network but have no specific geographical region assigned.

   3) Numerical listing of prefixes in 'area code' 800 (the code used
      for In-WATS 'toll-free' calling) and telephone carrier which is
      assigned to each.

   4) Numerical listing of prefixes in 'area code' 900 (the code used
      for value added information services) and the telephone company
      or IP (Information Provider) which operates each group of lines.

   5) A translation table for the names of the companies involved.

   6) A technical discussion of the processing of 700/800/900 calls.

   7) A glossary of technical terms used throughout the guide.

To ascertain the name of a community assigned to any particular prefix
other than 700/800/900 -- that is to say, a 'regular' area code, simply
dial the AT&T Operator at 10288-0 (or simply '00' if AT&T is your default
long distance carrier. Ask the operator for the 'name-place' of the area
code and prefix in question. There is no charge for this service.

The persons named at the start of each item in the guide are responsible
for the accuracy of the contents therein. We hope this guide to area codes
in North America will be useful information for Usenetters using the phone.

============================================================================

To: comp-dcom-telecom@rutgers.edu
From: dupuy@cs.columbia.edu (Alexander Dupuy)
Subject: Area Code Numerical Listings
Date: 13 Jan 89 22:11:51 GMT

You don't need a C program to translate area codes into placenames: this script
does the trick just as well, and it's easy to modify when they change:

@alex [ revised Nov. 4, 1991 and later by Carl Moore ]
==============================================================================
#!/bin/sh
'exec' /usr/bin/look "$1" "$0"
011 [ International Access Code ]
200 [ Reserved - Service Access Code ]
201 Morristown, Newark and Jersey City, (Northeast) New Jersey
202 Washington, District of Columbia
203 All parts of Connecticut
204 All parts of Manitoba, CANADA
205 All parts of Alabama
206 Seattle, Tacoma and Vancouver, (Western) Washington
207 All parts of Maine
208 All parts of Idaho
209 Fresno and Stockton, (Central) California
210 San Antonio, (Southern) Texas
211 [ Coin-operated Telephone Refunds ]
212 New York City (Manhattan only), New York
213 Los Angeles, California
214 Dallas, (Northeast) Texas
215 Philadelphia and Quakertown, (Southeast) Pennsylvania
216 Akron, Cleveland, Massillon and Youngstown, (Northeast) Ohio
217 Springfield and Champaign-Urbana, (South Central) Illinois
218 Duluth, (Northern) Minnesota
219 Gary, Hammond, Fort Wayne and South Bend, (Northern) Indiana
300 [ Reserved - Service Access Code ]
301 Silver Spring and Frederick, (Southern and Western) Maryland
302 All parts of Delaware
303 Boulder, Denver and Grand Junction, (Northern and Western) Colorado
304 All parts of West Virginia
305 Fort Lauderdale, Key West and Miami, (Southeast) Florida
306 All parts of Saskatchewan, CANADA
307 All parts of Wyoming
308 North Platte and Grand Island, (Western) Nebraska
309 Moline, Rock Island and Peoria, (West Central) Illinois
310 Parts of Los Angeles, California
311 [ Reserved - Special Function ]
312 Chicago, Illinois
313 Detroit and Ann Arbor, (Eastern) Michigan
314 Saint Louis and Columbia, (Eastern) Missouri
315 Oswego, Syracuse and Utica, (North Central) New York
316 Dodge City and Wichita, (Southern) Kansas
317 Indianapolis and Kokomo, (Central) Indiana
318 Lake Charles and Shreveport, (Western) Louisiana
319 Dubuque, Cedar Rapids and Iowa City, (Eastern) Iowa
400 [ Reserved - Service Access Code ]
401 All parts of Rhode Island
402 Lincoln and Omaha, (Eastern) Nebraska
403 Alberta, Yukon Territory and (Western) Northwest Territories, CANADA
404 Atlanta, (Northern) Georgia
405 Oklahoma City, (Southern and Western) Oklahoma
406 All parts of Montana
407 Orlando, West Palm Beach, (Eastern) Florida
408 San Jose and Sunnyvale, (Central Coastal/Silicon Valley) California
409 Galveston and Port Arthur, (Southeast) Texas
410 Baltimore and Annapolis, (Eastern) Maryland
411 [ Local Directory Assistance ]
412 Pittsburgh and New Castle, (Western) Pennsylvania
413 Springfield and Pittsfield, (Western) Massachusetts
414 Green Bay, Milwaukee and Racine, (Eastern) Wisconsin
415 San Francisco, (West Bay Area) California
416 Toronto, (South Central) Ontario, CANADA
417 Joplin and Springfield, (Southwest) Missouri
418 Quebec City, (Northeast) Quebec, CANADA
419 Toledo and Lima, (Northwest) Ohio
500 [ Reserved - Service Access Code ]
501 All parts of Arkansas
502 Louisville and Paducah, (Western) Kentucky
503 All parts of Oregon
504 Baton Rouge and New Orleans, (Eastern) Louisiana
505 All parts of New Mexico
506 All parts of New Brunswick, CANADA
507 Rochester, Austin and Winona, (Southern) Minnesota
508 Worcester, Framingham and New Bedford, (Eastern) Massachusetts
509 Spokane and Walla Walla, (Eastern) Washington
510 Oakland, (East Bay Area) California
511 [ Reserved - Special Function ]
512 Austin and Corpus Christi, (Southern) Texas
513 Cincinnati and Dayton, (Southwest) Ohio
514 Montreal, (Southern) Quebec, CANADA
515 Des Moines and Fort Dodge, (Central) Iowa
516 Hempstead, (Long Island) New York
517 Lansing and Saginaw, (Central) Michigan
518 Albany and Schenectady, (Northeast) New York
519 London, (Southwest) Ontario, CANADA
600 [ Reserved - Service Access Code ]
601 All parts of Mississippi
602 All parts of Arizona
603 All parts of New Hampshire
604 All parts of British Columbia, CANADA
605 All parts of South Dakota
606 Ashland and Covington, (Eastern) Kentucky
607 Binghamton, Elmira and Ithaca, (South Central) New York
608 Beloit and Madison, (Southwest) Wisconsin
609 Atlantic City, Camden and Trenton, (Southern) New Jersey
610 [Telex II (TWX) Service for CANADA]
610 Allentown, Reading and Chester, (Southeast) Pennsylvania
611 [ Repair Service ]
612 Minneapolis and Saint Paul, (Central) Minnesota
613 Ottawa, (Southeast) Ontario, CANADA
614 Columbus and Zanesville, (Southeast) Ohio
615 Chattanooga and Nashville, (Eastern) Tennessee
616 Battle Creek and Grand Rapids, (Western) Michigan
617 Boston and surrounding area, (Eastern) Massachusetts
618 Alton and Centralia, (Southern) Illinois
619 San Diego, Palm Springs and the Imperial Valley, California
700 Value Added Information Service Access Code (varies by LD carrier)
701 All parts of North Dakota
702 All parts of Nevada
703 Arlington and Roanoke, (Northern and Western) Virginia
704 Charlotte and Salisbury, (Western) North Carolina
705 North Bay, (Northern) Ontario, CANADA
706 [Formerly Tijuana, (Northwest) MEXICO equivalent to +52 6X XXX XXX]
706 Augusta, Columbus and Rome, (Northern) Georgia
707 Eureka, Napa and Santa Rosa, (North Coastal) California
708 Aurora, Elgin, Evanston and Waukegan, (Northeast) Illinois
709 All parts of Newfoundland and Labrador, CANADA
710 [ Government Special Services ]
711 [ Reserved - Special Function ]
712 Council Bluffs and Sioux City, (Western) Iowa
713 Houston and surrounding area, Texas
714 Orange County, California
715 Eau Claire and Wausau, (Northern) Wisconsin
716 Buffalo, Niagara Falls and Rochester, (Western) New York
717 Harrisburg, Pottsville and Scranton, (East Central) Pennsylvania
718 New York City (Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island), New York
719 Colorado Springs and Pueblo, (Southeast) Colorado
800 "Toll-Free" Incoming WATS Service Access Code
801 All parts of Utah
802 All parts of Vermont
803 All parts of South Carolina
804 Charlottesville, Norfolk and Richmond, (Southeast) Virginia
805 Bakersfield, Ventura and Simi Valley, (South Central) California
806 Amarillo, (North Panhandle) Texas
807 Thunder Bay and Fort William, (Northwest) Ontario, CANADA
808 All parts of Hawaii
809 Bahamas, Bermuda, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, etc.
810 Flint and Pontiac, (Eastern) Michigan
811 [ Reserved - Special Function ]
812 Bloomington, Evansville and Terre Haute, (Southern) Indiana
813 Fort Myers, St. Petersburg and Tampa, (Southwest) Florida
814 Altoona and Erie, (West Central) Pennsylvania
815 Freeport, Joliet and Rockford, (Northern) Illinois
816 Kansas City and Saint Joseph, (Northwest) Missouri
817 Fort Worth, Temple and Waco, (North Central) Texas
818 Pasadena and San Fernando (area north of Los Angeles), California
819 Hull and Sherbrooke, (Western) Quebec and (Eastern) NW Territories, CANADA
900 Mass Calling and Value Added Information Service Access Code
901 Memphis and Jackson, (Western) Tennessee
902 All parts of Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia, CANADA
903 Texarkana and Paris, (Northeast) Texas
904 Jacksonville and Pensacola, (Northern) Florida
905 [Formerly Mexico City, (Northern) MEXICO equivalent to +52 5 XXX XXXX]
905 Hamilton and Niagara Falls, (South Central) Ontario, CANADA
906 Sault Ste. Marie and Marquette, (Upper North) Michigan
907 All parts of Alaska
908 Elizabeth and New Brunswick, (Central) New Jersey
909 [ was Telenet Communications Data Network ]
909 Riverside and San Bernardino, (Southern) California
910 Winston-Salem, Greensboro and Fayetteville, (Central) North Carolina
911 [ Police/Fire Emergency Service ]
912 Macon and Savannah, (Southern) Georgia
913 Salina and Topeka, (Northern) Kansas
914 New Rochelle, White Plains and Poughkeepsie, (Southern) New York
915 Abilene, El Paso and Odessa, (Western) Texas
916 Sacramento and Davis, (Northern) California
917 Cellular and Paging for New York City
918 Muskogee and Tulsa, (Northeast) Oklahoma
919 Greenville, Raleigh and Williamston, (Eastern) North Carolina
--
inet: dupuy@columbia.edu
uucp: ...!rutgers!columbia!dupuy

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 15 Jan 89 10:39:19 EST
From: telecom@bu-cs.BU.EDU (TELECOM Moderator)
To: Telecom@bu-cs.bu.edu
Subject: Supplementary Code Numbers

You may wish to add a few additional codes to the list given above. These three
digit codes are also in use, although they are not, strictly speaking, 'area
codes'. They are not in the chart above since I thought some of you may not
want them there. If you do, then edit them in.

[Some of the following information became obsolete, because
410,510,610,810,910 became geographic area codes.]

200 Local testing, used by many telcos.
410 Western Union Telegraph Company - Northeast USA
510 Western Union Telegraph Company - Eastern USA
610 Western Union Telegraph Company - Canada
700 Value Added Information Services, per individual OCC
710 Western Union Telegraph Company - Southern USA
800 In-WATS 'toll free' calling
810 Western Union Telegraph Company - Mexico
900 Mass Calling Information/Value Added Services
910 Western Union Telegraph Company - Western USA (from Chicago westward)

The thing with WUTCO is, many years ago the old Bell System operated Teletype
machines; what they called the TWX (or [T]ype[W]riter E[X]change. The TWX
machines had their own switches, located in existing telephone central
offices, but on separate equipment. About twenty years ago, a court ruling
required Bell to sell its TWX service to Western Union, in a suit brought by
WUTCO against AT&T. WUTCO operated the system as TWX for many years, and in
the past five years has changed the name to Telex II.  The Western Union
central offices for Telex I (the original telex network) have always been
in WUTCO offices. The central offices for Telex II (formerly AT&T's TWX) are
still in Bell central offices, although they now belong to WUTCO. Is that
clear? You cannot dial into those numbers.

The WUTCO codes more or less match certain areas of the country, but in
recent years they have been more randomly assigned. If you see a number which
looks like a phone number, but has one of those leading codes, it is actually
a TWX machine.

When the present unassigned area codes of the conventional format have all
been used, sometime around 1992-1995, area codes 210,211,310,311,400,500,511,
600,711 and 811 will be next in line for assignment.

[Note as of 1993, 210 and 310 in use.]

Whether or not you want to include these special numbers in the chart given
in the earlier message depends on if you want strictly a listing of the

include all *assigned* codes. And while 700-800-900 are not strictly
speaking area codes, my belief is they definitely should be added to the list.

==========================================================================

Date:  Mon, 2 Jan 89 20:30:08 EST
From: scotts@bu-it.BU.EDU
To: telecom@bu-it.bu.edu
Subject: 800 Service

     As some readers of this list may not know, under Equal Access,
any long-distance company can carry 1-800 traffic.  Which carrier gets
the call is determined (at the moment) by the NNX of the number.  I.E.
1-800-528-1234 (The nation-wide number for making reservations at a
Best Western Motel) is carried by AT&T.  While 1-800-888-1800 is
carried by MCI.

    The carrier must have Feature Group D presence for originating
calls from the originating exchange (either direct, or through an
access tandem).

     In the future, when CCIS becomes wide-spread, a query will be
made in the database [Who gets 1-800-985-1234?] and the call will be
routed appropriately.  To clarify:  Now the carrier is determined by
the NNX.  In the future, the carrier will be determined by the entire
7 digits.

     A similar situation exists with 900 service.  Each carrier can
reserve NXX-s from BellCore (the people who among a zillion other
tasks are in charge of handing out prefixes and area codes).  They're
not cheap!  To get the actual number is free (there are qualifications
that I don't deal with), but to get it 'turned on' in a LATA costs you
money, depending on (1) How many prefixes you're getting, (2) whether
it's 800 or 900 service, (3) How many Tandems/End Offices are in the
LATA.  It requires a discrete amount of labor for EACH office, because
EACH routing table must be modified.

     Of the 800 possible NXX-s, 409 are currently assigned.  A
long-distance carrier can get one 800 and four 900 numbers just for
the paperwork.  But to get more than that, you have to show that
you're 70% full now, and demonstrate a real need for the capacity.

     I have included the entire 800-NXX to long-distance carrier
translation table.  Note that not every NXX is valid in every area.

Revised 800/OCN Translation Table
Effective 10 October 1988

221 ATX		222 ATX		223 ATX		224 LDL		225 ATX
226 MIC		227 ATX		228 ATX		229 TDX		230 NTK
231 ATX		232 ATX		233 ATX		234 MCI		235 ATX
236 SCH		237 ATX		238 ATX		239 DLT		240 SIR
241 ATX		242 ATX		243 ATX		244 ---		245 ATX
246 ---		247 ATX		248 ATX		249 ---		250 ---
251 ATX		252 ATX		253 ATX		254 TTU		255 ATX
256 LSI		257 ATX		258 ATX		259 ---		260 ---
261 SCH		262 ATX		263 CAN		264 ICT		265 CAN
266 CSY		267 CAN		268 CAN		269 FDG		270 ---
271 ---		272 ATX		273 ---		274 MCI		275 ITT
276 ONE		277 SNT		278 ---		279 MAL		280 ADG
281 ---		282 ATX		283 MCI		284 MCI		285 ---
286 ---		287 ---		288 MCI		289 MCI		290 ---
291 ---		292 ATX		293 PRO		294 ---		295 ---
296 ---		297 ARE		298 ---		299 CYT

321 ATX		322 ATX		323 ATX		324 HNI		325 ATX
326 UTC		327 ATX		328 ATX		329 TET		330 TET
331 ATX		332 ATX		333 MCI		334 ATX		335 SCH
336 ATX		337 FST		338 ATX		339 ---		340 ---
341 ATX		342 ATX		343 ATX		344 ATX		345 ATX
346 ATX		347 UTC		348 ATX		349 DCT		350 CSY
351 ATX		352 ATX		353 ---		354 ---		355 ---
356 ATX		357 ---		358 ATX		359 UTC		360 ---
361 CAN		362 ATX		363 CAN		364 HNI		365 MCI
366 UTC		367 ATX		368 ATX		369 TDD		370 TDD
371 ---		372 ATX		373 TDD		374 ---		375 TNO
376 ---		377 GTS		378 ---		379 ---		380 ---
381 ---		382 ATX		383 TDD		384 FDT		385 CAB
386 TBQ		387 CAN		388 ---		389 ---		390 ---
391 ---		392 ATX		393 EXF		394 ---		395 ---
396 ---		397 TDD		398 ---		399 ARZ

421 ATX		422 ATX		423 ATX		424 ATX		425 TTH
426 ATX		427 ---		428 ATX		429 ---		430 ---
431 ATX		432 ATX		433 ATX		434 AGN		435 ATX
436 IDN		437 ATX		438 ATX		439 ---		440 TXN
441 ATX		442 ATX		443 ATX		444 MCI		445 ATX
446 ATX		447 ATX		448 ATX		449 ---		450 USL
451 ATX		452 ATX		453 ATX		454 ALN		455 ---
456 MCI		457 ATX		458 ATX		459 ---		460 ---
461 CAN		462 ATX		463 CAN		464 ---		465 CAN
466 ALN		467 ICT		468 ATX		469 ---		470 ---
471 ALN		472 ATX		473 ---		474 ---		475 TDD
476 TDD		477 ---		478 AAM		479 ---		480 ---
481 ---		482 ATX		483 ---		484 TDD		485 TDD
486 TDX		487 ---		488 ---		489 TOM		490 ---
491 ---		492 ATX		493 ---		494 ---		495 ---
496 ---		497 ---		498 ---		499 ---

521 ATX		522 ATX		523 ATX		524 ATX		525 ATX
526 ATX		527 ATX		528 ATX		529 MIT		530 ---
531 ATX		532 ATX		533 ATX		534 ---		535 ATX
536 ALN		537 ATX		538 ATX		539 ---		540 ---
541 ATX		542 ATX		543 ATX		544 ATX		545 ATX
546 UTC		547 ATX		548 ATX		549 ---		550 CMA
551 ATX		552 ATX		553 ATX		554 ATX		555 ATX
556 ATX		557 ALN		558 ATX		559 ---		560 ---
561 CAN		562 ATX		563 CAN		564 ---		565 CAN
566 ALN		567 CAN		568 ---		569 ---		570 ---
571 ---		572 ATX		573 ---		574 AMM		575 ---
576 ---		577 GTS		578 ---		579 LNS		580 WES
581 ---		582 ATX		583 TDD		584 TDD		585 ---
586 ATC		587 LTQ		588 ATC		589 LGT		590 ---
591 ---		592 ATX		593 TDD		594 TDD		595 ---
596 ---		597 ---		598 ---		599 ---

621 ATX		622 ATX		623 ---		624 ATX		625 NLD
626 ATX		627 MCI		628 ATX		629 ---		630 ---
631 ATX		632 ATX		633 ATX		634 ATX		635 ATX
636 CQU		637 ATX		638 ATX		639 BUR		640 ---
641 ATX		642 ATX		643 ATX		644 CMA		645 ATX
646 ---		647 ATX		648 ATX		649 ---		650 ---
651 ---		652 ATX		653 ---		654 ATX		655 ---
656 ---		657 TDD		658 TDD		659 ---		660 ---
661 CAN		662 ATX		663 CAN		664 UTC		665 CAN
666 MCI		667 CAN		668 CAN		669 UTC		670 ---
671 ---		672 ATX		673 TDD		674 TDD		675 ---
676 ---		677 ---		678 MCI		679 ---		680 ---
681 ---		682 ATX		683 MTD		684 ---		685 ---
686 LGT		687 NTS		688 ---		689 ---		690 ---
691 ---		692 ATX		693 ---		694 ---		695 ---
696 ---		697 ---		698 NYC		699 PLG

720 TGN
721 ---		722 ATX		723 ---		724 RTC		725 SAN
726 UTC		727 MCI		728 TDD		729 UTC		730 ---
731 ---		732 ATX		733 UTC		734 ---		735 UTC
736 UTC		737 MEC		738 MEC		739 ---		740 ---
741 MIC		742 ATX		743 EDS		744 ---		745 ---
746 ---		747 TDD		748 TDD		749 TDD		750 ---
751 ---		752 ATX		753 ---		754 TSH		755 ---
756 ---		757 TID		758 ---		759 MCI		760 ---
761 ---		762 ATX		763 ---		764 AAM		765 ---
766 ---		767 UTC		768 SNT		769 ---		770 GCN
771 SNT		772 ATX		773 CUX		774 ---		775 ---
776 UTC		777 MCI		778 UTC		779 TDD		780 TDD
781 ---		782 ATX		783 ALN		784 ALG		785 SNH
786 *1		787 ---		788 ---		789 TMU		790 ---
791 ---		792 ATX		793 ---		794 ---		795 ---
796 ---		797 TID		798 TDD		799 --

821 ATX		822 ATX		823 THA		824 ATX		825 MCI
826 ATX		827 UTC		828 ATX		829 UTC		830 ---
831 ATX		832 ATX		833 ATX		834 ---		835 ATX
836 TDD		837 TDD		838 ---		839 VST		840 ---
841 ATX		842 ATX		843 ATX		844 LDD		845 ATX
846 ---		847 ATX		848 ATX		849 ---		850 TKC
851 ATX		852 ATX		853 ---		854 ATX		855 ATX
856 ---		857 TLS		858 ATX		859 ---		860 ---
861 ---		862 ATX		863 ALN		864 TEN		865 ---
866 ---		867 ---		868 SNT		869 UTC		870 ---
871 ---		872 ATX		873 MCI		874 ATX		875 ALN
876 MCI		877 UTC		878 ALN		879 ---		880 NAS
881 NAS		882 ATX		883 ---		884 ---		885 ATX
886 ALN		887 ETS		888 MCI		889 ---		890 ---
891 ---		892 ATX		893 ---		894 ---		895 ---
896 TXN		897 ---		898 CGI		899 TDX

921 ---		922 ATX		923 ALN		924 ---		925 ---
926 ---		927 ---		928 CIS		929 ---		930 ---
931 ---		932 ATX		933 ---		934 ---		935 ---
936 RBW		937 MCI		938 ---		939 ---		940 TSF
941 ---		942 ATX		943 ---		944 ---		945 ---
946 ---		947 ---		948 ---		949 ---		950 MCI
951 BML		952 ATX		953 ---		954 ---		955 MCI
956 ---		957 ---		958 *2		959 *2		960 CNO
961 ---		962 ATX		963 SOC		964 ---		965 ---
966 TDX		967 ---		968 TED		969 TDX		970 ---
971 ---		972 ATX		973 ---		974 ---		975 ---
976 ---		977 ---		978 ---		979 ---		980 ---
981 ---		982 ATX		983 WUT		984 ---		985 ---
986 WUT		987 ---		988 WUT		989 TDX		990 ---
991 ---		992 ATX		993 ---		994 ---		995 ---
996 VOA		997 ---		998 ---		999 MCI

NOTES:

      may be reserved for Access Tandem testing from an End Office.

Note also:  The following NXX are dedicated for RCCP (Radio Common Carrier
Paging) under the discretion of the local exchange carrier:

202, 212, 302, 312, 402, 412, 502, 512, 602, 612, 702, 712, 802, 812, 902,
and 912.

===================================================

900 Series Prefix to OCN translation table

Please note that this differs from the 800 table, because much
fewer of the 900 NXXs are assigned.

NXX OCN		NXX OCN		NXX OCN		NXX OCN		NXX OCN
200 ATX		202 Ameritech	210 ATX		220 ATX		221 TDX
222 ONC		223 TDX		225 Pac. Bell	226 MCI		233 TDX
234 TEN		240 U.S. West	248 Ameritech	250 ATX		258 TEN
254 TTU		255 SNT		260 ATX		264 ADG		266 CSY
272 Bell Atl.	273 CAN		275 ITT		280 Ameritech	282 LGT
283 Pac. Bell	288 GTE N.west  297 CAN		300 ATX		301 Ameritech
302 Ameritech	303 Pac. Bell	321 TEN		322 TDX		327 ETS
328 ATX		331 TET		332 PLG		333 U.S. West	335 Bell Atl.
342 ATX		344 ATX		345 ALN		346 United Tel. 350 ATX
364 GTE N.west  366 ONC		369 TEN		370 ATX		377 GTS
386 United Tel.	388 SNT		399 ARZ		400 ATX		407 ATX
410 ATX		420 ATX		422 ALN		426 PLG		428 Ameritech
430 U.S. West	444 ONC		445 PHE		446 MCI		450 Ameritech
451 CAN		456 TEN		463 United Tel.	478 AAM		479 ARZ
480 ATX		483 GTE Midwest	488 ONC		490 U.S. West	500 ATX
505 Pac. Bell	520 ATX		529 MIT		536 BUR		540 ALN
543 ALN		545 GTE Calif.	550 ALN		555 ATX		567 ALN
580 U.S. West 	590 ATX		595 CAN		600 ATX		620 Ameritech
624 Pac. Bell	626 CSY		628 Ameritech	630 CAN		633 MIT
639 PLG		643 CAN		645 CAN		650 ATX		654 TEN
656 SNT		660 ATX		661 United Tel.	663 MDE		665 ALN
666 ONC		670 CAN		677 CAN		678 MCI		680 ATX
686 LTG		690 CAN		698 NY Tel.	699 PLG		701 Bell Atl.
710 TGN		720 ATX		722 Pac. Bell	724 RTC		725 SNT
727 GTE Calif.	730 ATX		739 CSY		740 ATX		741 TEN
746 ITT		750 CAN		753 ALN		765 ALN		773 ATX
777 Pac. Bell	778 Ameritech	780 Ameritech	786 ATX		790 CAN
792 CAN		801 Bell Atl.	820 ATX		830 CAN		843 Pac. Bell
844 Pac. Bell	847 United Tel.	850 ATX		860 ATX		866 AAM
870 CAN		872 TEN		887 ETS		888 CIS		900 TDX
901 Bell Atl.	903 ATX		909 ATX		924 Ameritech	932 ATX
948 ARZ		949 MIC		963 TEN		970 MIC		971 MIC
972 MIC		973 MIC		974 ALN		975 ALN		976 ATX
988 MCI		990 MCI		991 ALG		993 SNT		999 TEN

OCN Reference List:

ADG - Advantage Network, Inc.		AGN - AMRIGON
ALG - Allnet Communication Services     AMM - Access Long Distance
AAM - ALASCOM				ARE - American Express TRS
ARZ - AmeriCall Corporation (Calif.)	ATC - Action Telecom Co.
ATX - AT&T				BML - Phone America
BUR - Burlington Tel.  			CAB - Hedges Communications
CAN - Telcom Canada			CNO - COMTEL of New Orleans
CQU - ConQuest Comm. Corp		CSY - COM Systems
CUX - Compu-Tel Inc. 			CYT - ClayDesta Communications
DCT - Direct Communications, Inc.	DLT - Delta Communications, Inc.
EDS - Electronic Data Systems Corp. 	ETS - Eastern Telephone Systems, Inc.
EXF - Execulines of Florida, Inc.	FDG - First Digital Network
FDN - Florida Digital Network		FDT - Friend Technologies
FST - First Data Resources		GCN - General Communications, Inc.
GTS - Telenet Comm. Corp.		HNI - Houston Network, Inc.
ITT - United States Transmission System	LDD - LDDS-II, Inc.
LDL - Long Distance for Less		LGT - LITEL
LNS - Lintel Systems			LSI - Long Distance Savers
LTQ - Long Distance for Less 		MAL - MIDAMERICAN
MCI - MCI Telecommunications Corp.	MDE - Meade Associates
MEC - Mercury, Inc.			MIC - Microtel, Inc.
MIT - Midco Communications		MTD - Metromedia Long Distance
NLD - National Data Corp.		NTK - Network Telemanagement Svcs.
NTS - NTS Communications		ONC - OMNICALL, Inc.
ONE - One Call Communications, Inc.	PHE - Phone Mail, Inc.
PLG - Pilgrim Telephone Co.		PRO - PROTO-COL
RBW - R-Comm				RTC - RCI Corporation
SAN - Satelco				SCH - Schneider Communications
SDY - TELVUE Corp.			SIR - Southern Interexchange Services
SLS - Southland Systems, Inc.		SNH - Sunshine Telephone Co.
SNT - SouthernNet, Inc.			SOC - State of California
TBQ - Telecable Corp.			TDD - Teleconnect
TDX - Cable & Wireless Comm.		TED - TeleDial America
TEM - Telesystems, Inc.			TEN - Telesphere Network, Inc.
TET - Teltec Savings Communications Co.	TGN - Telemanagement Consult't Corp.
THA - Touch America			TID - TMC South Central Indiana
TKC - TK Communications, Inc.		TLS - TELE-SAV
TMU - Tel-America, Inc.			TNO - ATC Cignal Communications
TOM - TMC of Montgomery			TOR - TMC of Orlando
TSF - SOUTH-TEL				TSH - Tel-Share
TTH - Tele Tech, Inc.			TTU - Total-Tel USA
TXN - Tex-Net				USL - U.S. Link Long Distance
UTC - U.S. Telcom, Inc. (U.S. Sprint)	VOA - Valu-Line
VST - STAR-LINE				WES - Westel
WUT - Western Union Telegraph Co.

NOTE: Where local telcos, such as Illinois Bell offer 800 service, they
purchase blocks of numbers from AT&T on prefixes assigned to AT&T. They
are free to purchase blocks of numbers from any carrier of their choice
however.
============================================================================

Date:  Tue, 3 Jan 89 01:57:48 EST
From: scotts@bu-it.BU.EDU
To: telecom@bu-cs.bu.edu
Subject: Another lesson on 700/800/900 service

I have compiled some more information about the SACs for your
edification.

These include 700, 800, and 900.

Most telephone users from the United States are quite familiar with
800 service:  a number that they dial and incur NO charge (not even
message units in most [all?] areas).

Then there is 900 service, which is most people perceive as 'value
added', i.e. you pay more for the information than for the transport
of the call.  These vary typically from 35 cents to a few dollars for
either a timed service, or a 'as long as you like' duration-sensitive
service.  There are two sub-species of 900 service, AT&T and
"everybody else".

Finally there is 700 service, which many people remember as Alliance
Teleconferencing.  This is the third "canonical" SAC.  With few
limitations, this SAC is given over to the IEC entirely.

Let's look at these in more detail:

800 service is offered by various IECs.  Each NXX in the 800 SAC is
assigned to a given carrier, who is responsible for assigning numbers
from that block to customers, and providing 10 digit translation.
When you as Joe Customer dial 1-800-222-1234 (made up number, please
don't bother them) it will initiate the following sequence:

1.  If you are in an Electronic Office (DMS-100, DMS-200, 1A ESS, #5
ESS) the 800-222 will be translated to "AT&T" and search for an
opening in a trunk group marked for 800 origination.  Should none be
found, bump to step 3.

2.  If you are in a non-electronic office (SXS, XB, and some flavors
of ESS), it will go to the access tandem that your office 'homes'
on, where 800-222 will be translated to "AT&T".

 [note that if at this point, the number doesn't have a translation,
you will get a "lose" recording from the CO]

3.  Find a trunk in a trunk group marked for 800 origination.  Should
none be found, give the customer a recording "Due to network
congestion, your 800 call could not be completed" or die, or whatever.
(Depends on phase of moon, etc.)

4.  The end office will then send the following pulse-stream (in MF):

	KP + II + 3/10D + ST + KP + 800 222 1234 + ST

 (note that this is a simplification, there are some fine points of
ANI spills that are beyond the scope of this article)

	II = 2 information digits ... typical values are:
		00  normal ANI .. 10 digits follow
		01  ONI line ... NPA follows
		02  ANI failure ... NPA follows
	3/10D = 3 or 10 digits.  Either the NPA, or the entire 10
	digit number.
	KP and ST are control tones

5.  The carrier receives all of this (and probably throws the ANI into
the bit bucket) and translates the 800 number to what's called a PTN,
or Plant Test Number.  For Example, 617-555-9111.  Then, the call is
routed AS IF the customer had dialed that 10 digit number.  Of course,
the billing data is marked as an 800 call, so the subscriber receiving
th call pays the appropriate amount.

900 Service.  As I mentioned earlier there are two flavors of 900
service, AT&T, and "Everybody Else".  Everybody else is handled
exactly as 800 service above, except the IEC will probably use the ANI
information to send you a bill.  (Either directly, or through your
BOC, each situation governed by applicable tariffs and contractual
arrangements between the IEC and the BOC)

AT&T 900 is a curious monster indeed.  It was designed as a "mass
termination" service.  When you dial a 900 # by AT&T (such as the
"hear space shuttle mission audio" number) you get routed to one of
twelve "nodes" strewn throughout the country.  These nodes are each
capable of terminating 9,000 calls >PER SECOND<.  There are several
options available, where the customer and/or the IP pay for all/part
of the call.  The big difference between 800 and AT&T 900 is >NOT<
"who pays for the call" (there are free 900 numbers) but "how many
people can it handle at once".  The IP is responsible for providing
program audio.  AT&T is prohibited from providing audio-program
services (i.e. tape recorded messages) [As with any rule, there are
exceptions to these as well]

The last SAC we'll deal with is 700.  I've seen ads on late-nite
television for Group Access Bridging service (GAB) under 700 numbers,
with a elephantine dialing sequence.  The one that comes to mind is
10041-1-700-777-7777.  [I make no guarantee about the quality or
availability of this service.  I don't even know if it still exists.]
If you were to dial 1-700-555-4141 you will hear a recording
announcing your Equal-Access carrier.  (Some carriers ignore the last
four digits, and any 700-555 number will give the announcement).

This is signalled the same as 800 service, and may or may not be
billed ENTIRELY at the discretion of the IEC.  In New York, under PSC
tariff you can order 900 and/or 700 blocking as well as 976, 970, 550,
and 540 blocking in various (but not entirely orthogonal)
combinations.

What in ONE carrier might be a customer service hotline (Dial 1-700-I
AM LOST) might for another be a revenue product.  There is LITTLE
standardization of 700 usage from IEC to IEC.

The one last dialing pattern that is worth mentioning is what's
called, "cut through dialing".  Try dialing 10220#.  If Western Union
comes to your town, you'll get a FG-A style dial tone.  Presumably if
you had a Western Union "Calling Card" [I don't know their term for
it] you could dial a call.  (If someone DOES have WU service, could
they please check this out for me?)

Glossary:

ANI - Automatic Number Identification.  An MF sequence that identifies
your line for toll billing information.  Often confused with ANAC
(Automatic Number Announcement Circuit) which reads your number back in
a synthesised voice.

BOC - Bell Operating Company.  A often misused term (even in this very
article :-) that in general usage means, "Your local exchange
carrier."  Since most of the telephones in the country are served by
what used to be the Bell system, we tend to use the term.  The proper
term in this case, however IS "Exchange Carrier [EC]"  They provide
service within your LATA.

FG-A - Feature Group A.  Line Side termination for Long Distance
carriers.  The old 555-1234 for Widget Telephone Company then dial an
access code and the number style dialing is called FG-A.

FG-B - Feature Group B.  Trunk Side termination for Long Distance
carriers.  (aka ENFIA B).  950 service.  This is LATA wide service,
and doesn't cost the customer message units.  ANI is only provided
when the trunks terminate in the End Office (as opposed to an access
tandem).

FG-D - Feature Group D.  Trunk Side termination.  Provides 10xxx
dialing, 1+ pre-subscription dialing, and Equal Access 800/900
service.  Only available in electronic offices and some 5XB offices
(through a beastie called an Adjunct Frame.)

GAB - Group Audio Bridging.  Where several people call the same
number, to talk to other people calling the same number.  "Party" or
"Chat" lines.

IEC - Inter-Exchange Carrier.  Someone who actually carries calls from
place to place.  AT&T, Sprint, MCI are all IECs.

IP - Information Provider.  Someone who sells a value-added service
over the telephone.  Where you pay for the INFORMATION you're
receiving, as well as the cost of TRANSPORT of the call.

NXX - Notation convention for what used to be called a "prefix".  N
represents the digits 2 through 9, and X represents the digits 0
through 9.  There are 800 valid NXX combinations, but some are
reserved for local use.  (411 for Directory, 611 for Repair Bureau,
911 for emergency, etc.)

ONI - Operator Number Identification.  In areas with some styles of
party-line service, the CO cannot tell who you are, and the operator
will come on and say, "What number are you calling from?".  You can
lie, they have to trust you.  They MAY know which PREFIX you're coming
from, though.

PTN - Plant Test Number.  A regular 10 digit number assigned with your
inward WATS line.  This may NOT be a 'dialable' number from the local
CO.  (A friend has a WATS line in Amherst, MA [413-549, #5 ESS] and
you cannot dial the PTN locally, but you can if you come in on a toll
trunk.)

SAC - Special Area Code.  Bellcore speak for area codes that aren't
really places, but classes of service.

============================================================================

Closing note: The information in this [Guide to North American Area Codes]
first appeared in various parts in TELECOM Digest Volume 9, issues 2 and 15;
January 3 and January 15, 1989.

[Note: Various updates made throughout 1992 and 1993 by Carl Moore, others.]

TELECOM Digest is published once or twice daily; is distributed to a
list of telecom enthusiasts and industry employees. It is distributed
to Usenet via the comp.dcom.telecom news.group.

Patrick Townson
Telecom Digest Moderator