Area Code Protest

State Assemblyman Wally Knox (D-Los Angeles) and U.S. Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Los Angeles) filed a petition Thursday with California regulators asking them to halt 10-digit dialing and the area code overlay in the 310 region. The lawmakers argue that the change is costly and inconvenient for those affected and that there is no proof of a genuine shortage of phone numbers. Nineteen homeowners associations, businesses and individuals joined in the petition. Under the 310 overlay plan, a second area code--424--will be added July 17 to serve the same region. As part of the plan, callers in 310 are required to dial 1 plus the area code plus the number for all calls, even those within the same area code. Knox has asked the state Public Utilities Commission for an expedited ruling on the matter. The PUC’s next regularly scheduled meeting is June 24.