Some of us remember the days when we could call neighbors in the Eastern Sierra with a dial of 4 or 5 digits. Now, if changes push ahead in the 760 area code region, we may have to dial 11 digits locally. It's that or a new area code.760.jpg

One more development on the 760 debates. Seems that an administrative law judge for the state Public Utilities Commission reversed her recommendation to geographically split the 760 area code. The earlier decision would have created a 442 area code in North San Diego County. Protests mounted and this week a judge changed her mind and recommended an overlay plan, which apparently retains most of 760 but intersperses the new area code of 442 and requires dialing 11 digits.

The final decision rests with the California Public Utilities Commission. The whole issue came up because of population growth and the explosion of wireless phones and devices that have nearly exhausted the 7.9 million phone numbers possible in the 760 area code.

760 is no small piece of ground. It extends east to the Arizona and Nevada state lines and beyond Mammoth Lakes to the north.

Locally, Inyo Supervisor Susan Cash has attended hearings to fight to keep our phone service the same. The PUC will make the decision at a meeting October 16th.

Supervisor Cash gave us an email through which you can register your view on the 760 issue. Send your comments to:

[email protected]

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