Phone Service

Re “Critics See No Need for New Area Codes,” Feb. 21: Is it a busy signal or cry for help? Whatever has happened to our phones? Long-distance phone companies switching our service provider without our consent. Pay phones costing 35 cents and more. Cell phones hyped for emergency use that can’t call 911. Area codes being changed with no justification. Where will it stop?

Isn’t it becoming clear that our once superior phone service is being jeopardized by a lack of government regulation? How much worse does it have to get?

TOM BARNUM

Laguna Beach