If there’s one thing that people hate, it’s admitting they’re wrong.
Since I’m one of those people I hate it, too, but when you’ve been repeatedly wrong in print it’s hard to pretend you weren’t bone-headed. So here goes:
My favorite piece of information about area codes, something that I have gleefully repeated many times over the course of a dozen years, including as recently as two weeks ago during the rollout of mandatory 603, isn’t actually true. Before I give details of this shameful tale, let me mention two other items related to area codes.
First, although it was generally reported that dialing 603 is now required for all in-state calls, note that not all switches on the landline network have been upgraded so ten-digit dialing is not always necessary, as I noted in my last story on the topic. This morning, in fact, I’ve had two calls go through just fine despite not dialing the area code. You can’t count on this, however; I’ve also run into a few “cannot connect” automated answers.
The absolute deadline for the transition is next June, when the new national suicide hotline begins.
Second, an update.
As you may recall, a decade ago we thought we would soon run out of phone numbers under 603, forcing New Hampshire to adopt a second area code. That possibility produced much wailing and gnashing of teeth throughout the Granite State until the Federal Communications Commission said better distribution of unused numbers meant 603 would last through the early 2030s.
Good, but could be better. There are 7.7 million allowable numbers under 603 but a year ago only 3.4 million have been distributed because under the current system, many potential numbers can’t be accessed.
So last year New Hampshire supported Maine’s petition to the FCC asking to test an even more efficient way of doling out phone numbers called individual telephone number pooling, which would make 603 last much longer. I got curious about where that petition has gone but as of last week, I’m told, no action has been taken on it. Stay tuned, as they say.
Enough updates; it’s time for my self-abasement.
My erroneous story involves the creation of the country’s original 86 area codes in 1947. At some point I heard, and accepted without confirmation (>italicres
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