🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1993Jan6.051317.29581@cronkite.ocis.temple.edu>, wisdom@picasso.ocis.temple.edu (Robert Wisdom) writes:
> John P. Dearing (jdearin@pacs.pha.pa.us) wrote:
> : In article <C0D5zF.EBn@olwejo.UUCP>, bob@olwejo.UUCP (Bob Kupiec) writes:
> : > I just heard on the news today that Bell of Pennsylvania will announce an
> : > Area Code split in AC 215.
> 
> : Actually, *ALL* of Philadelphia will remain in 215, along with almost
> : all of Bucks and about half of Montgomery Counties. Everything else will
> : go to the new 610 area code.
> 
> : One thing to note, There will not be any changes in charges for calls.
> : That is, anything that is currently a local call will continue to be a
> : local call, even if you have to dial 10 digits to complete the call.
> 
> 	Are you sure about this?  I can't see Bell of Pa being so nice for
> more than a couple of years.  Is there something that the PUC has in
> writing saying Bell of PA may not charge between 215 and 610, or are they
> just "promising"?
> 	Cynically, 

In addition to being a member of PACS (see the .sig) I'm also employed
by Bell of PA as a Systems Technician - Data in Center City Philly. A
few days before the news was officially announced, we received advance
information detailing the proposed split.

Nothing I recieved indicated that there were any changes planned for
local calling areas or rates charged for those calls. Any changes would
have to be approved by the PUC and that takes a lot of time with plenty
of public notice and hearings.

Who knows, in a few years things may change but in the information I
have they go to great lengths to point out that no increases would
occurr as a result of the split, even the case where a call to the next
town (or across the street) would involve 10 digits.

The concept of a local calling area crossing an area code boundary is
nothing new. In many areas near state boundaries, folks can call across
the state line as a local call. Out past West Chester, near the Delaware
state line people have a local calling area that crosses over into
neighboring 302. The Delaware folks have likewise.

Don't be cynical! It takes all the *fun* out of life. 8-)

John

-- 
John Dearing @ PACS Multi-SIG BBS (Philadelphia Area Computer Society)
      Email: jdearin@pacs.pha.pa.us
  U.S.Snail: 725 Ripley Place, Phila. PA, 19111-2524 (USA)
Voice Phone: +1.215.725.0103 (after 5pm Eastern)