LANSING, June 6.  Following yesterday's Commission approval of a 616
area code relief plan, the Federal Communications Commission has assigned
269 to be the new area code for the area  whose dividing line follows the
northern boundaries of the Saugatuck, Hamilton, Hopkins, Wayland,
Middleville, Hastings and Woodland rate centers.  Telephone customers in
these rate centers and those to the south of these rate centers will receive a
new area code, while customers to the north of these rate centers will retain
the 616 area code.  Permissive dialing of the new area code will begin no later
than July 13, 2002, and mandatory dialing will begin on February 15, 2003.   
The Commission also permitted wireless carriers in the 616 area code to use
an extended permissive dialing period through February 15, 2004.

A map of the 616/269 area code split is attached.

The MPSC is an agency within the Department of Consumer and Industry
Services.


Case No. U-12850
June 6, 2001
(MPSC announces 269 to be new area code as a result of 616 area code relief
plan)