Running out of prefixes for 760

With the ever growing number of cell phone and fax users on the planet, combined with the tremendous increase in the quantity of homes in North San Diego County, the region using the 760 area code has rapidly been running of out of telephone numbers. 

To split or not to split 760 and 442

The traditional fix in the past has been to split the area into two, with one portion transferring over to a new area code.  This kind of split puts an enormous burden on small businesses as they must reprint stationery, business cards, advertising materials, signage, etc., not to mention the danger of losing connection to former customers.

A successful fight to keep 760!

442 Overlay map from www.Keep760.org

Thanks to an organized effort by keep760.org, and to the community participation in response to their urging, we have succeeded in getting the California Public Utility Commission (CPUC) to agree to an overlay instead.  What this means is that every number that begins with 760 will remain the same.  Only newly issued numbers in the overlay region will contain the new area code, 442.  The two area codes will coexist within the same geographical area.  This is phenomenal news and a huge victory for those of us doing business in this region.  And for those who live in Cardiff CA homes, Encinitas homes, Leucadia homes or owning property in other areas of North San Diego County, we have been spared a monumental inconvenience.

A minor downside

The only down side, and its merely a minor nuisance, is that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requires dialing the area code + telephone number for all calls where an area code overlay exists. But with most equipment featuring autodialing and speed-dialing, we’ll barely notice it.