310 Overlay

So the Public Utilities commissioner says the opposition to the 310 overlay came too late (Aug. 4). Tellingly, the public is labeled the opposition. Yet this opposition was formed because the PUC mishandled the matter by approving the new area code in the first place and it continues to react piecemeal rather than manage all the new telecommunication uses in an orderly system. Because the PUC didn’t lead the opposition at the proper time, the public had to lobby for itself against its own oversight agency, only to be blamed for doing so too late.

RICHARD BAKER

Beverly Hills

* With all the consumer outrage about the new area codes, I wonder why the PUC doesn’t just force the phone companies to issue eight-digit phone numbers. Then, each area code would contain 100 million numbers instead of just 10 million as with a seven-digit number. This would provide enough growth to satisfy anyone. Most people would rather memorize an extra digit instead of learning all the new area codes.

STEVE DALTON

Huntington Beach