Barrie Mann
Special to the Sun

When only a handful of people turn up to a meeting to hear about a possible change to phone number area code changes, some are asking, “Why is it only a few people seem to be concerned about a change in area codes for the valley, but when the Forest Service wants to impose fees for recreational use around the lake, a large hue and cry is made?”

On the evening of Sept. 25, Kern County 1st District Supervisor Jon McQuiston held a meeting to get public input on a prososed “overlay area code” change. McQuiston wanted to hear from constiuents before he attends an upcoming Public Utilities Commission (PUC) meeting in order to carry the message of the residents of the Kern River Valley concerning the issue. However, with such a small representation of the valley residents at the meeting, it was difficult for McQuiston to judge the mindset of the entire community of the valley.

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What’s an overlay? In layman terms it means residents who currently have a phone number with a 760 area code can keep it; however, if a new line or new service is installed, the new phone number would have a different area code.

Of those attending the meeting, several spoke against the proposal of an overlay system. Several people from the Bodfish area spoke and voiced their concerns and objections. One spoke on behalf of senior citizens stating that an overlay system could prove to be cumbersome and confusing to some seniors.

Erin Woodard, a teacher in the Kern Valley High School commented that some of her students’ reaction was, “So what, we use cell phones all the time and dial 10 or more digits now, no big deal.” Woodard went on to ask, “Has anybody considered the point that if you need to dial information and don’t know which area code to ask for, what do you do?”

Another speaker asked about the cost of making a call to a different area code from our current area code should the overlay system be in place. Apparently, if it is in the same geographic calling area there should be no additional long distance charge. However, the call would need to be dialed as a long distance call.

Recently, there has been a significant effort on the part of Kern Valley resident, Richard Rowe, to make everyone aware of the potential impact a proposed change. In order to understand the issue Rowe has done extensive work and research on the issue. Several months ago when this issue first surfaced, the valley’s general population apparently ignored the situation, thus allowing another group also affected by the change to organize and push for their preferred option concerning the change. This group, located in the San Diego area, gathered business and civic leaders, hired attorneys to represent them and put a very effective campaign together to convince the California PUC that they should retain the 760 area code and everyone else should get a new one. This didn’t sit well with some others in the 760 area code geographic regions so it was taken to court. A judge made a decision that suggests strongly to the PUC that an overlay system be employed in the area that would have been given a new area code.

If an overlay system is implemented locally, residents might need to dial 10 or 11 digits. Re-programming phones might be necessary; businesses would need to update databases and possibly change business cards and stationary. All of this could have a significant impact in terms of money. So why is it very few people seem to be concerned?

There are still many issues to be resolved. Residents wanting to comment on the issue of the area code change can still do so. Send comments to Supervisor McQuiston at his office in Lake Isabella, but time is of the essence. The decision is likely to be made on Oct. 16 at the next meeting of the California PUC.