We could headline this story "Verizon Versus Everybody Else". The Public Utilities Commission, an administrative judge and members of the public all say that we should keep our 760 area code and forget about technical overlays that would require dialing more numbers just to call neighbors.
Inyo County's State Senator Roy Ashburn wrotes a letter to the PUC. The Senator backed the plan that would allow Inyo, Mono and San Bernardino counties to keep the 760 area code for up0 to 22 years. The plan says that North San Diego County would change over to the new area code of 442.
Senator Ashburn said that Inyo, Mono and San Bernardino live and do business in one area code. "They do not exist in the 'multiple area code life style' that is the norm in urban areas," said Senator Ashburn.
Ashburn asked the PUC to approve their original recommendation for us to keep 760 when they meet on October 16th.
The phone company wants to overlay 442 in our areas so any new numbers would have that area code and we would have to dial 11 digits even to call neighbors.
Our local officials have opposed this and so has the Kern County Board of Supervisors. If you want to register an opinion with the PUC, call 866-340-6147, FAX 213-576-7052 or email [email protected]
