Separate area codes for cellphone users

Re “Area Codes for Devices Approved,” Aug. 25

Your article says that the Federal Communications Commission experimented with an exclusive area code for cellphones in New York in the 1990s but abandoned it because “cellphone companies said they wanted the same area codes as land lines.” Why should cellphone companies set policy for everyone else without even giving a good reason? If cellphones had their own area code, it would free up 310 numbers for land lines, we wouldn’t have to dial longer numbers as with the overlay (except to cellphones) and we would know when we are calling someone’s cell.

NANCY BARTH

Beverly Hills