New 231 area code

[Scott Gerstenberger]

As you may know the northern half of the current 616 area code is
in the process of being renumbered to 231. The southern half will
continue to be area code 616. This message is designed to provide
information for those users for whom this change may require some 
adjustment in how they dial into MichNet.

The transition to 231 began on 6/5/9. Until 10/2/99 both the old
and new area codes are valid for locations which are transitioning
to 231. However, beginning on Saturday 10/2/99, only the new 231 
area code will work.

Please forward this information to your users who may be impacted
by the area code change and remind them that should they need to
change the way they dial into MichNet, they will need to do that
by 10/2/99.

There are 23 MichNet dial-in numbers that have moved to the new 
area code:

Baldwin	       231-745-3182
Big Rapids    	231-592-1040
Boyne City    	231-582-7492
Cadillac      	231-779-0683
Central Lake  	231-544-3056
Cheboygan     	231-627-2220
Evart         	231-734-6497
Frankfort     	231-352-4134
Fremont	       231-924-5662
Hart	          231-873-7798
Howard City   	231-937-6069
Indian River  	231-238-4962
Kalkaska	      231-258-8479
Lake City     	231-839-6760
Ludington	     231-843-7167
Mancelona     	231-587-0545
Manistee      	231-398-0302
McBain        	231-825-8232
Mesick        	231-885-2962
Muskegon      	231-728-4253
Northport     	231-386-5029
Petoskey      	231-347-1715
Traverse City 	231-941-9826

Most MichNet dial-in users have been and will continue to dial
7-digit phone numbers to exchanges which are in the same area 
code as they are, e.g. from 616 to 616 or from 231 to 231. The
only users for whom the new area code has some impact are those
who now end up dialing across an area code boundary due to the 
split. We have only identified only two exchanges which are in
this "cross boundary" situation: Fruitport (231-865-xxxx) and 
Grant (231-834-xxxx).

Users in Fruitport have two local call options for reaching
MichNet: Muskegon (231-728-4253) and Grand Haven (616-846-2617).
If a user in Fruitport wishes to call the Grand Haven number 
(which is now is a different area code), the call should be 
dialed as 1-616-846-2617 even though it continues to be a local 
call. Calls to Muskegon can continue to be dialed with 7 digits
since they do not cross an area code boundary.

Similarly, users in Grant have two local call options for
MichNet:  Fremont (231-924-5662) or Kent City (616-678-4177).
If a user in Grant wishes to use the Kent City number (which
is now in a different area code), the call should be dialed
as 1-616-678-4177) whereas calls to Fremont can continue to
be dialed as a 7-digit number.

Scott Gerstenberger
Merit Network