Non-Area Area Codes

An interesting article in the "metro" section of the New York Times observes that "Cellular phones, changing governmental regulations and new Internet technology have torn area codes from geography, allowing people to have phone numbers with area codes distant from where they live. Though not new, the trend has kicked up a pitched debate among a colorful collection of technological pundits, telephone historians and Web preachers who specialize in the topic."

All of this started in a case I handled in 1995, in which New York and the FCC authorized the 917 area code -- known formally as a Numberiing Plan Area or "NPA" -- to be assigned on a non-geographic basis, so as to include cell phones and pay phones. That of course was before the days of ubiquitous wireless phones and unlimited roaming, which as the Times points out have made even geographic area codes non-geographic.

Now, get this. Some sociologists call this "a deeply confusing development." Come on! When the Bell System moved from geographic exchange or central office codes (the first three numerals of a 7-digit telephone numer), like "Murray Hill 5-0154," to direct dialing like "679-0154" in the early 1950s, many folks saw that as an unsettling change. Poignant and nostalgic, perhaps, but disturbing, no. Telephone numbers and geography have not been synonymous for years. Harkening back to the old days is nice in sepia-toned movies and memoirs, but not in today's fast-paced, interconnected world.

 Posted by glenn