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From: gast@cs.ucla.edu (David Gast)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: Los Angeles to Get a Third Area Code (
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Date: 14 Dec 89 13:43:28 GMT
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X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 9, Issue 575, message 7 of 13


Just out of curiosity, why is it that when an Area Code becomes full,
it is split when it might make more sense to alter the boundaries of
neighboring area codes.  There are many examples.  201 is being split,
yet 609 its neighbor to the South in New Jersey is almost empty.  312
has just been split, yet 815 which used to surround 312 in Illinois
has plenty of room.  Similarly it was just announced that 213 would
split into 213 and 310, yet 714 and 818 are hardly busting at the
seams and 805 and 619 have plenty of room.

On a related note, the 213 split is said to have occurred because of
the growth of cellular and fax lines (and probably centrex and numbers
which are used but not associated on a one to one basis with physical
lines).  It seems to me that rather than pass the cost of this split
onto every individual in the country, that the cost should be born by
those who are causing the trouble.  Given the prevailing socialism for
the rich and powerful, however, everyone will pay.

Finally, the LA paper seemed to gloat over the fact that LA would be
the first city with 3 area codes and 4 if you include 714 in Orange
County.  It obviously never appeared to the editor that NYC has 2 area
codes and 5 if you count contiguous, metropolitan areas.  201 is right
across the Hudson; 516 is on Long Island just past the city boundary.
914 includes Westchester County which is just North of the Bronx.
Finally, 203 is in Conn.  I can't remember for sure if it touches NYC;
I seem to recall that Conn is only a few miles away from NYC.  (Note:
I do not believe that Orange County ever touches LA either).  As far
as I can tell, an extra area code just means more dialing; it is not
great accomplishment.

[ The minor geographical issues involved are not worth many
follow-ups.  This is TELECOM Digest, not alt.geography.trivia.  Please
send me your information.  I can then summarize to the Digest if
necessary.  Please do not copy the Digest. ]


David Gast
gast@cs.ucla.edu
{uunet,ucbvax,rutgers}!{ucla-cs,cs.ucla.edu}!gast