‘Gnats’ Disrupt Area Code Change New 360 Code On Coast Problem For Many Businesses

Fri., Jan. 27, 1995

Associated Press

Telephone industry people are calling it “gnats in the network.”

Whatever the reason, the state’s new 360 area code is causing some major problems. Every business with a multiline phone system - here, throughout the United States and in Canada - seems to be affected.

The problem is affecting thousands of operations, which have not reprogrammed equipment to handled the new code. The pesky “gnats” are bugging people in more than one Clark County business.

Jerry Parks, director of marketing for Vancouver’s Western Wood Preservers Institute, is an example.

“I obediently sent out-of-state customers a card with the new area code and instructed them to use it effective Jan. 15,” Parks said.

After several of his customers complained that they could not get through with the new area code, Parks called US WEST Communications.

The problem was a hitch in the area code switch, US WEST spokesman Harry Grandstrom said.

Even if a caller dials 1-360, that person won’t get a connection unless the phone that is being called has been reprogrammed. He said that’s because multiline phones don’t recognize the new area code.

He said all long distance carriers must reprogram their equipment in order for the new code to work. There are hundreds of them and not all have made the change, he said.

Grandstrom said the company has been sending information on the new area code to its customers and industry associates for more than a year but many apparently have been ignoring it until now.

Callers can use the old area code as well as the new one until May 21.

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