We admire the rebel spirit and creative drive of Leucadia resident Scott Chatfield, who recently launched a "don't change my 760 area code" campaign.

What's attractive about his opposition to a new area code in North County is a sound compromise: In lieu of an outright change that will collectively cost area businesses, school districts and local governments millions of dollars, he has put forward what he terms "the overlay option."

On April 24, when the California Public Utilities Commission voted 4-1 to carve most of North County east to Julian and Borrego out of the 760 telephone area code, it clearly didn't give the overlay option due consideration.

Instead, the politically appointed commission made it mandatory that voluntary use of the new 442 area code begin on Oct. 24, with mandatory implementation on April 24.

An "overlay" allows the commission to attach the new 442 area code to any phone numbers handed out after Oct. 24 while allowing everyone else to continue using the 760 area code.

The simplicity of this suggestion insists on a reconsideration by the commission.

The April 24 vote, with only Commissioner Timothy Alan Simon voting in opposition, was cast with minimal public counsel and without consideration of the costs.

Meanwhile, Chatfield is waging a common-sense campaign and has received more than 800 hits on his Web site: Keep760@org.

Regarding public advice, we must note that the commission closed its San Diego office last year. Thus, if any business owner, chamber of commerce representative or school official wanted to file a formal complaint about this wrong decision, they'd have to go to Sacramento.

We hope commissioners will remember to serve the public in this case and reconsider the overlay option.

Call: (415) 703-1366 or write: CPUC, 505 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco, CA 94102.