Here in the mid-west [I still think *that's* a bad joke] we're not as
civilized as out in the wild west of Arizona.
Our !@#$@#$$@#!!!!! state legislooters *ordered* the phone companies to
use the overlay system when they decided we needed more numbers.
Here in Ohio it was bad enough to begin with: Local calls, intra-LATA
"extended use area" calls, in-state long distance calls, and
out-of-state long distance calls. #1,2,3 are handled by local service
provider; #4&5 by "long distance carrier of choice" ... but Since Sprint
is my "local provider" they want me to use them as my "long distance
carrier of choice" ...
Bills are starting to get screwed up already. The town where I live has
four prefixes: 932, 933, 934 & 937 Since I'm in "overlay land" the
switching center is currently adding the 513 area code automatically for
the next couple of months. When an "area code" pops up, the calls are
being routed to my "long distance carrier of choice" and I received a
bill from AT&T for 3 local "free" calls this month. Even more fun, I
tried to call AT&T to get them alerted to the errors, and they have
automated *everything* including requesting refunds!!
The fun, I fear, has just begun ...
l.d.
====
On Tue, 20 Feb 2001 21:37:10 -0500, Roger Turk wrote:
> Glenn wrote:
> .. > No, the phone company (in their infininte wisdom), has decided that we
> .. > need to use the area code for ALL local calls.
> .. > To call my brother (3mi down the road), I must dial 3305382406
> .. > And for my brother to call me... 3305380023
> The phone company in its infinite wisdom must have used an "overlay" system
> when they adopted a new area code, instead of a geographic division. With
> the overlay system, the person next door to you could have a different area
> code, as well as could a new phone line in your house. There was a big
> controversy here in Arizona when they needed a new area code and an overlay
> system was suggested. Fortunately, it was rejected, although those of us
> outside the Phoenix area had to suffer thru the problems of a new area code.
> When Phoenix had to adopt two new area codes, the overlay system was
> suggested again, and rejected again. Now that the state needs still another
> area code, an overlay system was whispered, but a geographic system was
> adopted.
> Modems, cell phones, faxes, pagers, etc., require a lot of communications
> equipment. One of these days, a person is going to be assigned a telephone
> number at birth, just like a Social Security number, that will stay with
> him/her for life.
> Roger Turk
> Tucson, Arizona USA
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