Quote:
Originally posted by sycamore
... The argument I've heard for new area codes is that we are running out of phone numbers. However, I have also heard that the Baby Bells needlessly reserve blocks of three-digit extensions, which is part of the need for new area codes.
If I recall correctly, 267 and 484 have only been around for what? 2 years? You cannot honestly tell me that we have already run out of numbers in 267.
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Some of your questions would be better understood in
http://www.nanpa.com . However area code 610 has too many new local phone companies. No longer are exchanges limited to Verizon equipment. Therefore (610)267-xxxx defines which company system to contact to make a connection. If (610)267-xxxx contained multiple & different local phone company, then the telco version of a DNS would become a nightmare - calls would take longer to complete and the database maintenacne would become complicated. As it was, area code 484 was not properly implemented in 610 so that all 610 numbers that did not have long distance could not call 484 area code numbers. Image how much worse this would be when every phone number must be assigned uniquely to all databases in every local phone company. That is why each company is assigned a block of 9999 consecutive numbers.
Unfortunately each company may not use all 9999 numbers in their block. Not a problem if there were only a few phone companies. But there are something like 200+ phone companies in each area code that need blocks of 9999 numbers. Therefore all 267 numbers were assigned.
In that web site will probably be the latest lists of area codes already in trouble. Last time I looked, many recently upgraded area codes including NJ and CA were in trouble again. Also apparent is a shortage of three digit area codes for US/Canada/Mexico/Carribean. Yes, area codes cover all those countries meaning that there is a shortage of area codes.
Some regions gave users a break - one area code per region. However PA has politicans running PennDOT and the PUC. Therefore they were more interested in making it easier for phone companies rather than for users (we don't pay enough in legalized bribes). That is the reason for confusing area code overlays in PA whereas NJ separated 201 and 609 into six clearly defined and separate area codes. No overlays so that a phone number is quite specific for each part of the state.
One solution is to assign cell phone numbers to their own area code - which would temporarily eliminate reserved and unused numbers for cell phone towers. But the bottom line is this - we need a 12 digit phone number system for the US country code. I understand that (due to another example of globalization) all worldwide phone equipment manufacturers have been instructed to already support this inevitable upgrade - IOW support 15 digit phone numbers.