REGION: Weighing the numbers

Exclusive North County area code not so bad, some say

By GARY WARTH - Staff Writer | Saturday, July 19, 2008 5:09 PM PDT ∞

NORTH COUNTY ---- As momentum grows to ask state officials to reconsider changing North County's area code from 760 to 442, the man behind the drive sometimes is confronted with a demanding question.

What's the big deal, anyway?

Several North County Times readers have asked just that in comments left after stories written about Scott Chatfield, the Leucadia man who launched the Web site www.Keep760.org after learning that the Public Utilities Commission in April decided to split North County from the area code it has had since 1997.

Despite the opposition to the change, it does come with some advantages for North County. The new area code is predicted to last 22 years, welcome news for people complaining that their numbers change too frequently. And it will be exclusive to North County, unlike the 760 code that spans a geographic region larger than some states.

Chatfield himself is quick to say that new area codes are not society's biggest problem, and he often refers to his endeavor quixotically.

Having a sense of humor has helped Chatfield endure a backlash from people who wonder what all the fuss is about. As a guest on KGB radio's Dave, Shelly and Chainsaw morning show this week, he endured host Dave Rickards telling him to "lighten up" and asking "what's your problem?"

The problem, he has often repeated, is that many people have said they did not know about the possible change until after the fact, and the split will be costly to many local businesses that will have to change advertisements, stationery, business cards and signs.

But the business expenses that come with new area codes may not be as great as some people fear, according to a reader and business owner identified as Mark.

"I have been through this four times," he wrote on the North County Times Web site. "It really never cost any extra because when I order new supplies I just replace the code."

Another reader who remembers past changes wrote: "The world did not end. Everything worked out. Plain and simple."

The reader also wondered why so many people were upset about the area code change when they also are facing an "economy in the tank, gas through the roof, planned tax increases, foreclosures ..."

Another reader identified as "LiberalJim" echoed the sentiment with his comment: "For crying out loud, grow up, folks. Your neighbors are losing their homes and their jobs, our young folks are dying in two wars, the dollar is worth half what it was five years ago, and gas is nearly five bucks a gallon. ... Why don't you focus your anger on something that really matters?"

Chatfield, a band manager and owner of a small recording label, remains unwavering in his opposition to the change and his support of overlay zone that would allow everybody to keep their 760 area code while new numbers would be assigned 442 within the same boundaries.

"I feel that if there is pain to be had, it should be borne equitably by all the people in the 760 area code," he said. "Let's have a new area code in the same area that equitably distributes the burden."

Under the change approved by the commission, 1.6 million numbers will be changed to 442 while 1.9 million numbers outside North County will remain 760.

The new code would be used specifically in Borrego, Carlsbad, Encinitas, Escondido, Fallbrook, Julian, Oceanside, Pauma Valley, Camp Pendleton, Ramona, San Marcos, Valley Center, Vista, and Warner Springs. It would be phased in beginning November and would be mandatory next May.

Chatfield questions whether the 442 area code really will last for 22 years, as the commission predicts.

"It's not a matter of their sincerity," he said about the commission. "But it's a matter that things change."

In a more intangible argument in favor of the change, a North County Times reader identified as "Cool with it" wrote about liking 442 because of the Oldsmobile 442.

The reader also liked that the area code would include Julian, Borrego and coastal North County.

"Where else has such geographic diversity and coolness?" the reader wrote. "Nowhere else! We will be an exclusive club, man. I can dig it. I am so stoked."

Contact staff writer Gary Warth at (760) 740-5410 or gwarth@nctimes.com.