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Everybody has heard something about the switch to digital television, but what about the switch to 10-digit dialing in Utah? It's set to happen in March, but one lawmaker is trying to change that.
The Public Service Commission says, starting March 1, 2009, all phone calls in Utah will require dialing 10 digits. Also, all new phone numbers will have the 385 area code, regardless of city.
Rep. Jim Dunnigan, R-Taylorsville, is worried about that 10-digit dialing, especially for seniors and children.
"Now we are going to tell them, it's not enough to memorize seven numbers, you have to memorize 10, and is it 801 or is it 385," he said.
Dunnigan is sponsoring House Bill 215 to assign the new area code by geography, like 435. But some businesses want the overlay. The CEO of the Utah Association of Realtors, Chris Kyler, says Realtors rely on repeat customers remembering their phone number.
"They spend a lot of time and money developing their phone number and their marketing plan with their name and business cards and signage and the like," Kyler said.
If the bill is passed it will reverse the Public Service Commission's order.
E-mail: mrichards@ksl.com
