Wednesday, August 25, 1999
Bell fighting area-code change
No data given to show need, petition says
BY TERRY FLYNN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Cincinnati Bell on Tuesday filed a petition with the Public Service Commission of Kentucky for a rehearing of the order allocating area code 606 to Eastern Kentucky and creating a new area code for Northern Kentucky and Lexington.
Bell stated in the petition that the commission's decision should be supported by evidence developed on the record. But the utility says there is no evidence of any studies, statistics, testimony or other information supporting the decision.
The commission announced Aug. 4 that it was creating a new area code zone, including Northern Kentucky and the Interstate 75 corridor to just south of Lexington, while maintaining the 606 area code for all of Eastern and Southeastern Kentucky. The new area code is 859.
The change would also mean that telephone customers in nearby southwestern Ohio, primarily Cincinnati, will have to dial 10 digits, instead of seven, to call Northern Kentucky numbers.
Bell recommends in its petition that the commission look at all the factors relative to burdens on both Eastern-Southeastern Kentucky and Northern Kentucky/Lexington caused by the area-code change.
The petition points to the number of large businesses in Northern Kentucky with customers all over the world. Bell claims an area-code change could represent considerable financial and administrative burden on these companies.
The petition also asks that the commission grant a rehearing to provide an opportunity for affected customers to tell their stories and voice their concerns.
Bell pointed out in the petition that it provides service to more than 250,000 telephone customers in Northern Kentucky and has received “numerous inquiries from its customers ... expressing their concerns about the costs and inconvenience associated with changing area codes.”
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