Alternatives to Area Codes

* Re “PUC Won’t Always Answer Call,” Dec. 1.

My thanks for a most thoughtful editorial on the need for new solutions for the increasing number of area codes necessitated by growth in phone, cellular and fax services. In the 13 years since area code 213 spawned 818, we now have 213, 818, 310, 626, 562 and even 909 (split off of 714), to say nothing of 805 and 619 in Southern California. Incredibly, seven of the nine area codes mentioned are in Los Angeles County.

Overlay is a solution. Had my 818 code in Van Nuys changed to 626 while my neighbor’s stayed 818, it would have been even more confusing than my 787 exchange and two of my neighbors’ 994 and 901 exchanges all being in the same apartment complex. The phone company began “overlaying” exchanges years ago; now it can happen with area codes as well.

But there’s a better way. A new area code simply doubles the number of phone numbers. An extra digit added to the base three-digit exchange plus four-digit number increases the available phone numbers tenfold. So, 555-1010 can yield 555-10101, 10102, 10103 etc. The phone company says the technology is too expensive. But that’s nonsense. Phone numbers evolved from 1111, to 2111, to KLondike 2111, to KL5-2111, to area code (213) 555-2111 to (818) 555-2111.

555-21116, or even 5556-2111 is just another step in that evolution.

RICK ROFMAN

Van Nuys