Residents and Businesses Say They Want to Keep 714

By Jennifer Muir, The Orange County Register, Calif.

Jan. 26–HUNTINGTON BEACH — Residents and business owners overwhelmingly spoke out Thursday night in support of keeping their 714 area code phone numbers intact.

About 50 people attended a public meeting at Huntington Beach City Hall about a proposal to bring a fourth area code, 657, to Orange County by next year. It was the last chance for phone customers to express their concerns in person. However, customers can comment about the proposals online until a decision is made, which could take at least six months.

“If we keep splitting up area codes, by about the first time my grandkids go out to get phone numbers, we’ll have area codes the size of soda crackers,” Placentia resident John Wilson said. “This is ridiculous. It’s absolutely absurd.”

Fountain Valley resident Judy Meyer, who works in the real estate industry, said she wants to keep the phone number she’s had for 40 years.

“If you’re a business owner, you have no idea how much business you lose when people can’t reach you,” Meyer said.

California Public Utilities Commission officials expect 714 numbers to run out by as soon as late 2008, commission analyst Sue Wong said.

The area code, which tourism boards and business owners in north and west Orange County say has become part of their identity, was created in 1951 after it was split from the 213 zone.

Since then, more than 7.32 million numbers under the 714 area code have been made available to phone companies that service cells and landlines.

The commission has worked to conserve phone numbers by limiting the number that telephone companies can obtain. Blocks of 1,000 phone numbers are given to companies when they need them.

Among the alternatives public utilities commissioners will consider:

–An overlay, which would let residents keep their 714 area code and require new customers to have a 657 area code. All customers on landlines would have to dial 1 and the area code.

–Divide 714 customers into two geographical areas: One area would adopt the new area code, while those in the other section could keep 714. Residents would keep dialing seven-digit numbers.

Some at Thursday’s meeting said an area code change would hurt the tourism industry in Surf City. More than 13 million people visit the sand in Huntington Beach each year, contributing to more than $230 million generated annually from sales tax.

One resident suggested creating an option that would consider Huntington Beach part of the county’s “economic engine,” along with Disneyland and the resort community surrounding it and keep the area code. Representatives from Anaheim and Disneyland have advocated a similar plan around the Disneyland and Anaheim Convention Center area.

“It’s critical to keep our business and tourism engines in Anaheim, Buena Park and Huntington Beach all in 714 area code,” said Huntington Beach resident Tim Geddes. Geddes called proposed options for geographically splitting the 714 area code “like the King Solomon approach of cutting the baby to be fair.”

The Public Utilities Commission expects to settle on a plan this year. Meanwhile, the public can continue submitting comments at the commission’s Web site at www.cpuc.ca.gov/714areacode until the agency’s board considers the options. Once a decision is made, customers will be notified by their service providers.

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Copyright (c) 2007, The Orange County Register, Calif.

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