Saturday, August 21, 1999
Patton defends area-code change
Says N.Ky. better able to pay costs
BY PATRICK CROWLEY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
NEWPORT — Northern Kentucky's growth was what created the need for a new area code, so Northern Kentucky should have to adjust to the new area code, Gov. Paul Patton said Friday.
“If there is a problem, it was caused by Central and Northern Kentucky,” Mr. Patton said. “So if they caused the problem, is it unfair to ask them to make ... the adjustments that are necessary to solve the problem?”
Some politicians, business leaders and consumers have complained about the pending change next year of the current 606 area code to a new 859 area code for Northern Kentucky and the Lexington area in Central Kentucky.
Cincinnati Bell Telephone plans to file a protest about the change with the Kentucky Public Service Commission, or PSC. The company, as well as others, have said the change will force businesses to change letterheads, signs and other materials containing phone numbers while causing an overall inconvenience to consumers.
Three Northern Kentucky state senators — Dick Roeding of Lakeside Park, Katie Stine of Fort Thomas and Jack Westwood of Erlanger — wrote Mr. Patton a letter Aug. 10 protesting the change and pointing out that the governor tried to influence the state agency that made the area code change.
“We are aware that you encouraged the PSC to make Central and Northern Kentucky change their area code,” the lawmakers wrote, “but we ask that you reconsider this position in light of the enormous impact upon our area.”
Mr. Patton defended his involvement in a decision by state utility regulators to change Northern Kentucky's telephone area code.
Mr. Patton was among the
small number of people who asked the PSC to let Eastern Kentucky — where he is from and still maintains a home — keep the 606 area code.
He contends more prosperous, growing areas that need more phone numbers can better afford the cost of changing the area code.
“Well, I certainly wrote a letter” to the PSC, Mr. Patton said Friday. “But if there is a burden, it would be more fair to place it on the prosperous areas.
“I expressed my opinion in an open letter. I think it was right, and I think the (PSC) is right,” said Mr. Patton, who said he had no contact with regulators other than writing the letter.
Mr. Patton also hinted that some of the complaints about changing the area code may be exaggerated.
“If there is any burden, it's not a significant burden,” he said. “It happens all the time.”
Mr. Patton also talked about the possibility of a proposed Northern Kentucky business training center receiving $10 million to $12 million for construction being included in the two-year budget he will present to the General Assembly in late January.
Earlier this week, the Northern Ken tucky Consensus Committee, a group of political, business and community leaders, announced the project — the Metropolitan Education and Training Services center, or METS — is the region's top priority for receiving state money next year.
The center, to be operated by Northern Kentucky University, would be located in a 50,000-square-foot building near the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.
It would be used to train workers. Companies in the region have long complained about how a lack of trained workers is hampering their ability to grow.
Work force development is an area that Mr. Patton has pushed in his efforts to reform and improve higher education.
“It's a worthy project,” Mr. Patton said. “But I'm just collecting data. We have to look at the budget first, and we'll be collecting on the recommendations” and requests for funding.
“But as to whether I would prefer (METS) over another project, I would pass on any opinion at all right now,” he said.
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