New area code on the horizon?

A shortage of phone numbers in the 714 area code that includes Huntington Beach and neighboring cities could prompt the addition of a new 657 area code.

The exchange is expected to run out of new numbers in the 714 area code by 2008, said Kyle DeVine, a California Public Utilities Commission analyst.

The commission is holding meetings in Anaheim, Orange and Huntington Beach to get public input on adopting the 657 area code.

Huntington Beach is set to have a public meeting from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Jan. 25 in City Hall.

Anyone with a 714 area code will be affected by the code change, regardless of what options are implemented, according to the commission.

If the commission chooses to add a second area code in the 714 area, also called an overlay option, everyone would have to dial the area code on every call even if they already live in the 714 area.

Residents would have to dial a 1 and 10 digits of a phone number because multiple area codes would exist in the same geographic region.

If the commission splits the 714 area code into a 657 code, half of the people would be split into two area codes.

Business owners would have to change their advertising, business cards and other stationery to let customers, family and friends know about the change. Splitting an area code would mean splitting a geographical region in numerous ways.

For business owners, the thought of changing their phone number on all their printed materials translates to dollars and cents. Joe Shaw, owner of California Greetings on Main Street, said he hopes the commission will opt for the overlay option, which would only require cell phone and new users to adopt the 657 area code.

“It costs money to reprint all our materials … including adverting materials that we prepare way ahead of time,” Shaw said.

Shaw rattled off different materials he’d have to change, including stationery, business cards and his listing in an annual guide with the Huntington Beach Conference and Visitor’s Center.

“Business cards we print up a lot at a time,” he said.

“So there are costs associated with it.”

He quickly estimated an area code change could immediately easily cost his business about $1,000.

Shaw doesn’t think it’s fair to require established businesses to change their area code to accommodate the added number of people requesting the 714 area code.

“It doesn’t make sense to tell people to change their area code,” he said.