Central Oregon rings in new "541" area code

Starting November 5, about half the telephone customers in Oregon started operating under a new area code. As of Sunday, much of the state, including Central Oregon changed over to the 541 code.

Earlier this year, the Public Utility Commission approved a split method of implementation for the new code. The state was divided in two; the northwest corner, including Portland and Salem, was assigned the 503 code and the remainder of the state received the new area code.

The new code will be introduced with an eight- month permissive dialing period. Calls destined for customers in the area to be served by the new code can be dialed using either area code. Permissive dialing ends on June 30, 1996, when the 541 area code becomes mandatory.

Phone customers are being urged to make any changes necessary to use the 541 area code as soon as possible after November 5.

PBX systems, computer modems, fire alarms, call detail recording, key systems,fax machines, call forwarding, and customer- owned coin phones may need to be modified to accommodate the new code. Cellular phone users located in the 541 area will need to have their phones reprogrammed once permissive dialing begins.

Customers should check automatic or speed dialers as well, and those whose area code will change to 541 should also check their phones for doctor or other emergency keys that may need to be reprogrammed.

Business customers who own or lease their equipment should contact their vendor or consultant on changes necessary to their equipment. Some of the local phone companies plan to establish a test number for business customers to call to determine if their system accepts the new area code; customers should contact their local phone company for more information.

The second area code is necessary because the 503 area code was projected to run out of prefixes in mid- 1996, two years sooner than expected. The 541 area code will provide most of the state with approximately 15 years of relief, although current projections indicate a third Oregon area code may be necessary in the northwest corner sooner than that.

The new codes are needed to meet the explosive demand because of population growth and new technology, including cellular phones, fax machines, pagers and computer modems.