Area codes 310 and 424: Difference between revisions

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[[Image:Area_code_310.png|right|thumbs|350 px|Map of California area codes in blue (and border states) with 310/424 in red]]

'''Area code 310''' is the [[California]] [[telephone]] [[area code]] which was split from [[Area code 213]] on [[November 2]], [[1991]]. Area code 213,310 whichis originallyroughly coveredcoterminous mostwith ofthe [[Los Angeles County]], now covers [[downtownWestside|West Los Angeles]] only. The south and east portions of 310 (roughly the [[GatewaySouth Cities]] area ofBay, Los Angeles County from [[Long Beach, California|LongSouth BeachBay]] toareas [[Whittier, California|Whittier]]) became theof [[areaLos codeAngeles 562|562 area codeCounty]], including onoffshore [[JanuaryCatalina 25Island]], [[1997]]located 40km. The 424 overlay was implemented on July (26, 2006mi.) andwest newof telephonethe numbersmainland issuedportion mayof begin[[Los withAngeles eitherCounty, 310California|Los orAngeles 424County]]. Ten digitArea dialingcode within213, thewhich 310originally areacovered codemost becameof optional[[Los onAngeles January 1County]], 2006now andcovers became[[downtown mandatoryLos onAngeles]] Julyonly. 26, 2006.

"The 310" is often used as shorthand for the [[West Los Angeles (region)|West Side]] of [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]] and the [[South Bay, Los Angeles|South Bay]] region south of [[Los Angeles International Airport|LAX]]. Along with [[Area code 212|212]] ([[Manhattan]]), [[Area code 213|213]] ([[downtown Los Angeles]]), [[Area code 404|404]] ([[Atlanta, Georgia|Atlanta]]), [[Area code 909|909]] (the [[Inland Empire (California)|Inland Empire]] area in Los Angeles' eastern suburbs), and [[Area code 416/647|416]] and [[Area code 905/289|905]] (respectively [[Toronto]] and its suburbs), 310 is one of the best-known area codes due to its frequent citation in [[popular culture]]{{citation required}}. Unlike Manhattan's [[Area code 646|646]] overlay, when 310 was introduced it immediately became more desirable than the older 213 because of its connection with the affluence of [[Beverly Hills]], [[Malibu]] and other parts of West Los Angeles.

Area code 310 is roughly coterminous with the [[Los Angeles Westside|West Los Angeles]] and [[South Bay, Los Angeles|South Bay]] areas of [[Los Angeles County]], including offshore [[Catalina Island]], located 40km. (26 mi.) west of the mainland portion of [[Los Angeles County, California|Los Angeles County]].

==Splits and Overlay Controversy==

"The 310" is often used as shorthand for the [[West Los Angeles (region)|West Side]] of [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]] and the [[South Bay, Los Angeles|South Bay]] region south of [[Los Angeles International Airport|LAX]]. Along with [[Area code 212|212]] ([[Manhattan]]), [[Area code 213|213]] ([[downtown Los Angeles]]), [[Area code 404|404]] ([[Atlanta, Georgia|Atlanta]]), [[Area code 909|909]] (the [[Inland Empire (California)|Inland Empire]] area in Los Angeles' eastern suburbs), and [[Area code 416/647|416]] and [[Area code 905/289|905]] (respectively [[Toronto]] and its suburbs), 310 is one of the best-known area codes due to its frequent citation in [[popular culture]]{{citation required}}. Unlike Manhattan, when 310 was introduced it immediately became more desirable than the older 213 because of its connection with the affluence of [[Beverly Hills]], [[Malibu]] and other parts of West Los Angeles.

The south and east portions of 310 (roughly the [[Gateway Cities]] area of Los Angeles County from [[Long Beach, California|Long Beach]] to [[Whittier, California|Whittier]]) became the [[area code 562|562 area code]] on [[January 25]], [[1997]].

Several proposals had been made to split 310 at Imperial Highway, a major east-west thoroughfare that marks the southern boundary of [[Los Angeles International Airport]]. The [[South Bay, Los Angeles|South Bay]], below the boundary, would receive [[area code 424|area code 424]]. South Bay governments and businesses had long opposed such a move, since it would require costly changes to business cards, stationery, signage, and other business communications. In April [[2005]], telecommunications providers petitioned the [[California Public Utilities Commission]] to instead [[Overlay plan|overlay]] 424 on the whole of 310 as presently constituted; in August [[2005]], the CPUC tentatively approved the overlay, with plans for a binding decision on the matter by the end of the calendar year.

SeveralIn lieu of executing an additional split, a new [[area code 424|area code 424]] [[overlay plan|overlay]] for the entire 310 region was first announced in early 1999. Previously, several proposals had been made to split 310 at [[Imperial Highway]], a major east-west thoroughfare that marks the southern boundary of [[Los Angeles International Airport]]. The [[South Bay, Los Angeles|South Bay]], below the boundary, would receivehave received [[area code 424|area code 424]]. South Bay governments and businesses had long opposed such a move, since it would require costly changes to business cards, stationery, signage, and other business communications. In April [[2005]], telecommunications providers petitioned the [[California Public Utilities Commission]] to instead [[Overlay plan|overlay]] 424 on the whole of 310 as presently constituted; in August [[2005]], the CPUC tentatively approved the overlay, with plans for a binding decision on the matter by the end of the calendar year.

The announcement of the 424 [[overlay plan|overlay]] created an uproar in Los Angeles's politically powerful Westside community, in part because the change would necessitate dialing 11 digits even when calling local numbers. Championed by [[Los Angeles Times]] columnist [[Robert Scheer]] in the paper's Santa Monica insert section, a protest movement arose in May 1999, focusing on the idea of telephone-number conservation. In a carry-over from the analog phone-system days, numbers were still being distributed to telephone companies in blocks of 10,000 -- leading to a huge volume of unused telephone numbers in each area code. Responding to the controversy, the [[California Assembly]] passed the Consumer Area Code Relief Act of 1999 on September 9, 1999, and the 424 overlay was tabled.

Having been staved off nearly seven years, the 424 [[overlay plan|overlay]] was finally implemented on July 26, 2006 and new telephone numbers issued in the 310 area code may now begin with either 310 or 424. Ten-digit dialing within the 310 area code became optional on January 1, 2006 and mandatory on July 26, 2006.

==External links==

*[http://www.igs.berkeley.edu/publications/par/summer2001/protest.html/ History of the 1999 Area-Code Overlay Protest Movement]