What does everybody think of this proposal? I don't like it. 646 is a
number for O HI O , not midtown Manhattan, and 347 is for a computer.
           6 4  6                              DIR
What they want to do is all wrong. I think first, the 718 split should
be postponed as long as possible. Not only is 347 an odd area code - at
least now it still is, but this gives people a lot of trouble in seeking
Directory assistance. You won't know what area code someplace is. Maybe
we are headed in that direction, but if we postpone it, maybe we can
figure a way out and the transition certainly will be easier.
More important even, people will start to have to remember 10 digits
and not 7, because the first three won't be so automatic anymore.
We are at the point where people at least know the are code 718 very
well, like 212, but you can get too many and the boundaries are not
obvious and the number not even like an area code.
I think just like we use 917 for beepers and pagers, perhaps 917 could
be split early, and numbers for faxes and other special numbers could be
added to it. What you want at least is that numbers that people call
personally, that they remember, should be 212 or 718 and numbers that
are dialed by machines, or that have to written down before being
dialed, that nobody tries to remember, like fax numbers, can be the
other codes.
It seems like the proposals are that either A) new numbers be assigned
the new area code or B) the 212 and later 718 area codes be split. I
have a differnt idea. Every location - household or place of business -
should be entitled to at least 1 - maybe we can do 2 especially if
someone is charged for others - it can be a sort of voluntary fee that
can actually lowrr rates for others - every location be entitled to at
least 212 or 718 number (as the case may be) And other numbers after
that will be 917 or 646 or 347 or whatever - because I am sure they'll
be other area codes after that. I think we can manage that. Perhaps
phones in cars or cellular phones might be an exception, as now in
Manhattan. In addition to the one number - or possibkly two, a person
could buy more and also could get a discount on their phone rate of they
were willing to take another area code for the first. People who only
used a phone to make calls, or who wanted a semi-unlisted number would
readily volunteer phone lines for the bad area codes. And with at least
one number 212, and the opportunity to pay for more, business cards
would not have to be reprinted. We don;t really have more places to call
- we have new uses for phones numbers so surely this system of at least
one guranteed 212 or 718 number can work.
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