Refresher Course On New Area Codes

Sunday is the big day when the local telephone companies start enforcing the new area codes. Instead of using 206 for all of the Seattle area, now you have to push 425, 253 or 206 before making long-distance calls and some local calls.

The phone companies - US West and GTE - have been trying to get people used to the idea the past seven months. But Mr. Johnston knows there will be questions when people try to call a friend Sunday and a recording tells them they can't make the call without the area code.

Here are some Q's and A's on what to expect.

Hey Johnston: The new telephone area codes officially start Sunday. I am confused. I live in Redmond, which used to be in the 206 area but now is in the 425 area. I used to be able to call most places in the 206 area code without pressing 1. Is that still true?

Answer: As most people are starting to find out, the old 206 area code has been split into three: 206, 425 and 253. The reason is because there are too many people getting extra phone lines for another phone, fax machines, pagers and computers. The phone companies ran out of numbers.

The phone companies started getting people ready for the switch back in April, figuring that seven months would be enough time to prepare. The major phone companies (US West and GTE) have been sending out information, but there are still questions.

You should still be able to reach the same local numbers for no charge that you were able to reach before the change. The difference is that from Redmond you will now have to add area code 206 before you call the numbers in the 206 area.

The numbers within your area code (425) can be called without adding the 425 prefix. But you have to add the new area code for the other local numbers, even if that number was a local call before. For example, you want to call a number in Seattle from Redmond. You call 206-XXX-XXXX. You don't need to push 1 first.

Be warned that if you do add a "1" to a local call by mistake, you could still be charged for long-distance service even if it is a local call. It depends on what kind of which long-distance service carrier you have.

Hey Johnston: Now that we have more numbers to stick into our dwindling number of brain cells, is there some easy way to keep everything straight?

Answer: There is no little chant you can say to yourself to keep things straight. Just that Seattle is 206, east of Lake Washington is 425, and the area south of Renton and Des Moines belongs to 253.

Hey Johnston: Where is the 425 area-code boundary in the north? Is Bothell split?

Answer: No, Bothell is not split. It belongs to 425. The border is to the west of Bothell, generally along the Shoreline area and to the north of Edmonds. But Dana Smith of US West said telephone lines don't run along the usual geographic or city borders because those borders have changed over the years.

Hey Johnston: Will I have to use the Eastside's new area code (425) even if I am calling someone within that area code?

Answer: No, unless it's a long-distance number. For example, Bellevue to Everett is a long-distance call even though both cities are in the same 425 area code. If the person you are calling was a long-distance call before the change, he is still a long-distance call after Sunday.

The difference is that you have to add the new area code into the number while making a call. If you mistakenly include the area code for a local number, your call will still go through.

Hey Johnston: If I use the wrong area code and get a recording about getting the wrong number, how do I go about finding the right area code?

Answer: For at least the next six months, your wrong number will be answered by a recording. The recording will tell you that you called the wrong area code and then give you the correct phone number and area code.

This service will last for six months. US West said after six months, you are on your own.

Hey Johnston: I live in Woodinville (425 area code), and it is a long-distance call to Bellevue but a local call to Seattle (206 area code). Will that change under the new system?

Answer: No. Long-distance boundaries don't have anything to do with the change in area codes. This situation has existed for years, and the calling boundaries were established by the state.

A final note: To show how this area-code business can get a little confusing, we will use The Seattle Times Eastside bureau as an example.

The bureau in downtown Bellevue (area code 425), but the area code for most staffers' telephones is 206. That's because the switchboard is at The Times' main office in Seattle.

However, to make it easier for Eastside callers, The Times has set up two 425 numbers. The main number for the Eastside bureau is 425-453-2130. The bureau's 24-hour Eastside hotline to pass on news tips is 425-453-TIPS (8477). If you live in the 425 area code, you have to use only the last seven numbers.

If you are calling the Just Ask Johnston line, push 206 and then 464-8475.

If you want to speak to Mr. Johnston personally, you still have to push 206 before calling 515-5636.

From Mellisa Barran of GTE, the best piece of advice is: No matter where you are, always give out your area code when you are giving someone your phone number.

How to Just Ask Johnston: This column appears Mondays and Wednesdays in the Eastside edition. Leave your questions on Steve Johnston's voice mail at 206-464-8475. Or write: Just Ask Johnston, c/o The Seattle Times, 10777 Main St., Suite 100, Bellevue, WA 98004. The e-mail address is east@seatimes.com