Karl wrote on Sep 4, 2008 9:49 PM:Alright, we've got the military weighing in for us. Nice!

Good Job wrote on Sep 4, 2008 10:30 PM:Thumbs up to those who were able to attend today's meeting.

The CPUC now must take this change seriously - the implications and the affects to our military personnel and operations are more than signficant.

Rock on Camp Pendleton - You guys are the greatest! Stay safe and bless you!!

Weighing in or whining in wrote on Sep 4, 2008 10:42 PM:So now, the crybabies who can't handle change are going to play the national security card.

What else could we use?

How about changing the area code makes it harder to secure the border.

And then there is how the change in area code contributes to global warming.

And finally, Osama bin Laden wants the 760 area code to change.

It gets funnier every day!

BJF wrote on Sep 4, 2008 11:19 PM:People, you've got to make yourselves heard at meetings like this. And a big thank you to Bradley J. Fikes for staying on top of this for us.

civilian wrote on Sep 4, 2008 11:24 PM:The Marines' concerns seem pretty darn legitimate to me. And I certainly understand that their focus was elsewhere. Still, you have to wonder how an organization with $6 billion in infrastructure and 43,000 permanent residents can miss something as large and as publicized as an area code change. I hate to say it, but Iraq appears to be stretching their capabilities to that extent.

Keep wrote on Sep 5, 2008 12:12 AM:C'mon folks, this is a no-brainer! Common sense. Let us all keep our 760 numbers and assign 442 to new phone numbers. That we can adapt to and live with. Government needs to stop with the stupid hair-brained ideas and leave us alone!

Yokozuna wrote on Sep 5, 2008 6:58 AM:Please note: Local calls in a geographic area shared by two area codes (the overlay system) will require dialing ten digit numbers - to include the area code. Thank goodness for speed dial.

John wrote on Sep 5, 2008 7:03 AM:Maybe with the military weighing in will result in the area code boundries being redrawn to insure that they stay in the 760, and the rest of us don't? Right-give all the military bases their own area code! THAT will make it so much easier!

John E wrote on Sep 5, 2008 7:18 AM:The PUC's entire public input process was fundamentally flawed, because the board merely asked whether we wanted an overlay or a split, with no reference to which direction the split would go. As I have pointed out numerous times, there is a reason that geographic area code splits have consistently awarded the existing area code to the urban core, and that is simply that the cost of an area code change is far more burdensome for a business than for a resident. The PUC violated its own policy in trying to stick north San Diego County, the urban core, with the new area code.

The PUC headquarters in downtown San Francisco still has that city's ORIGINAL 415 area code, which survived through the San Jose 408, Oakland 510, and numerous other geographic splits. Why are the current PUC so ignorant of history?

lady wrote on Sep 5, 2008 7:20 AM:To weighing in & whinning
What planet are you on??? The military
problems ARE of great concern,duh... And are ALL the concerns of others with businesses that will have to pay for a change.. People are broke right now,none of US need to spend $$$ we don't have for this change...

To weighing in-whining wrote on Sep 5, 2008 7:52 AM:Don't let the door hit you on the way out. Maybe you want all the zip codes changed too, or just yours?

Need Coffee wrote on Sep 5, 2008 8:50 AM:Maybe someone can tell me why when I dial a 324-1286 from area code 760 it says I need to dial a 1 first? I mean there must be a gazillion combinations of numbers the area code 760 could use. And another question when I use to call some of the 760 areas I had no problem now on some 760's it says I need to dial a 1 first?

Bradley J. Fikes wrote on Sep 5, 2008 9:34 AM:Thank you all for your kind words on my story.

One thing didn't get in my story that I'm trying to nail down -- is the 441 area code used by scammers? If so, since 442 is just one digit away, it could create some unsavory confusion. This was said at the PUC hearing Thursday.

Here is a well-documented Web page that says it is so. It lists the 441 as a new area code in the 809 area code of the Caribbean, infamous for the call-back scams:
http://tinyurl.com/5nl6rc

Oceanside Chris wrote on Sep 5, 2008 9:45 AM:Need Coffee: If calling from your cell phone a "1" will not be needed. For example, 760-555-5555 and 555-5555 will get you the same place if calling from a 760-cell phone. From the land line: you'll need to dial (or press) 1 plus 760-then 555-5555. Land line phones are routed a bit differently than wired phones. It gets quirky with voice over internet; but that's really a small part of the picture. Hope this helps. KEEP 760!

Mark wrote on Sep 5, 2008 12:22 PM:If the overlay is approved, then ALL TEN DIGITS WILL be required when calling from cellular phones, even if within 760. Seven-digit dialing WILL CEASE at some point during preparation/implementation of the overlay, from BOTH landlines AND cellulars. The 1+ before all ten-digits IS REQUIRED in overlays in California (and parts of Illinois and New York) when calling from a landline, for both local and toll/long-distance calls. The 1+ before all ten-digits is OPTIONAL from celular phones in overlays, anywhere such overlays are in effect in the U.S. But the AREA CODE (at least ALL TEN-digits) is REQUIRED in overlays whether calling from a landline or calling from a cellular!

But right now, cellular phones can place local and toll calls within 760 as seven-digits+SEND, ten-digits+SEND (i.e., 760+seven-digits+SEND), and 1+ten-digits+SEND (i.e., 1+760+seven-digits+SEND).

Oceanside Chris wrote on Sep 5, 2008 2:44 PM:Mark, thanks. That clarifies it.

Richard wrote on Sep 5, 2008 3:19 PM:Typical military lies. All of the bases phones will have to be reprogrammed even if we get the overlay. All the phones will need to have 1+760 added to the phone numbers. People need to get over this. No one wants to dial 10 or more digits to make a phone call. And besides, I think the people out in Palm Springs have more political clout then we do and THEY will never allow an ovelay for Palm Springs. So quit trying to postpone the inevitable and start raising money to change your stupid business cards! There is going to be a transition period where there will be a message that says "beginning on such a date" the area code will change. You would have to be really stupid to not know how to call your own family! I hope the marines are smarter than that!

Kidding Me wrote on Sep 5, 2008 3:40 PM:"Commission staff said the area code split was more popular than the alternatives, based on public comments received and remarks made at four hearings, only one of which took place in North County. The other three were in Apple Valley, Palm Springs and El Centro, which are to keep the 760 area code."

SO, if my reading comprehension skills are up to par, the least populated areas, where the area code won't change, were in FAVOR of the split plan, and those favorable comments were in the majority because most of the meetings were held there? Am I through the looking glass?

So, then, this plan has a 75% approval rating?

This is why statistical representations are so suspect. And par for the course for a governmental agency to lay it out this way.

To all concerned wrote on Sep 5, 2008 4:36 PM:business people. Just do what my doctor in Newport Beach did. He just crossed out 714 and wrote in 949 on all his business cards and stationery, etc. until he ran out. I laughed when I saw it and thought what a tightwad, but then I didn't have to pay an increase in his fee either. The telephone company gives plenty of warning on the change. Just don't stock up on your paper.

As for Camp Pendleton, leave it be.

Bill wrote on Sep 5, 2008 5:48 PM:Split the area code rather than the overlay. Its short term pain vs. long term chaos.

Are we to believe that the mighty US Marines can't handle a simple area code change maneuver?

fred wrote on Sep 5, 2008 8:21 PM:toss a coin (even a centavo) heads gets 760, box over who gets the call....

Glenn wrote on Sep 11, 2008 12:12 AM:In most area code splits, the larger, less densely-populated region gets the new area code, while the smaller, more densly-populated region keeps the old area code. I favor a split, but with North SD County keeping 760 and the rest of the region going to 442. I suspect the main funding for having it in reverse has been from from wealthy people in Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs and Palm Desert.

Of course, I'm expecting commanders from 29 Palms to protest my suggestion just as Camp Pendleton opposes the current one. Guess you can't please everybody...

R. Cowan wrote on Sep 11, 2008 11:23 AM:To Whining & To whom it may....
Evidently, the both of you aren't financially impacted..
this time. What about those of us whom have been affected more than once for YOUR convience. For my business it will be about $20,000.00. My accountant
ha informed me I will NOT be able to write off most of it. To repaint my trucks and the signs for our job sites
and our stationary and ad's. I also, should mention the down time for the trucks to be re done. Are you going to help out? Overlay, overlay, overlay. That is unless I can, of course, count on your financial support. I've had to do this as many others have, now three times and counting. I will be looking for your checks.

Ben wrote on Sep 17, 2008 2:55 PM:There have very many area code splits in the last 30 plus years. You would think that the military has managed in those situations across the US.

The overlay will cause us to dial 11 digits 1+760 or 1+442 plus the 7 digit number on every local call that we dial forever in the future. I think the split will be less of a problem.

Ken wrote on Oct 2, 2008 11:16 AM:Does the CO of Camp Pendleton realize that with an overlay (1) everyone on the base will now have to dial ten digits instead of seven to call anyone else on the base, and (2) new lines added to the base will have a different area code from the existing lines. How very confusing and frustrating this will be.