You have Manchin to thank for the new mandatory 10 digit dialing.

[Lasher]

The Public Service Commission had properly ruled that the state would be split into two area codes, with the southern half to stay with current area code 304 and the north switching to new area code 681. You wouldn't have noticed the difference when making local calls from anywhere in the state. But it was not to be.

Governor Manchin intervened to get the PSC to change their ruling so that an overlay, and not a split, would be employed. This means newly assigned phone numbers anywhere in the state could get new area code 681.

Why would he do that? Cutting through the bullshit, it was mainly because phone companies didn't want to go through the hassle of converting the northern half of the state to the new area code. Another part of it is, businesses in the northern area didn't want to have to change their stationery and other literature to reflect the new area code. That's it.

So the next time you make a local call, remember you have Manchin to thank for having to dial those 3 extra digits. He sold us out to state phone companies and other businesses.

http://www.newsandsentinel.com/page/content.detail/id/502197.html?nav=5061

[Hubert Flottz]

1. What, you question the king of West Bye Gawd Virginia?

I'll bet His Majesty will be all for the GOPers drug testing people on unemployment and food stamps too. Joe prolly thinks that investing in all those $150.00 drug tests would be a good way to "stimulate the economy" and bring the jobs back from China, Mexico and India. I'll bet the folks in Ravenswood will be thrilled to go piss in a bottle for the Fatherland.

No wonder this state is so f---ed up!

[Lasher]

2. Manchin is saying the overlay has been done in other states.

But that's in large metropolitan areas, not whole states. This pisses me off. Virginia just did an area code split a few years back and they didn't get screwed with a statewide overlay.

[Hubert Flottz]

3. Needing to dial extra numbers means something to someone

having a heart attck, but Joe don't give a rat's ass...that guy is 100% for Joe.

[Staph]

4. Last time I looked,

there was no requirement to append the area code in front of 911.

[Hubert Flottz]

5. I don't think someone having a heart attack would have time

read the fine print. And what about all the little lost children trying to call home who don't know you have to dial 304 now before you can speak to mom and dad? And the old folks who like me, who have CRS?

[k8conant]

6. You folks must all be in high and mighty southern West Virginia...

and wanted to take away my 304 area code. Lots of areas around the country have 10-digit dialing anyway.

[Lasher]

7. Those other 10 digit areas are all major metropolitan areas such as New York City.

Overlay networks are more understandable in those areas. But Manchin's gift was a statewide overlay of a large rural area. In those cases all other states have used a split.

Nice try, that's the same lie Manchin's been telling about this.

[leftyclimber]

8. I'm in Morgantown and think this is both confusing and ludicrous.

I'd much rather have a single area code for the area, and I don't particulary care what it is.

[slater89]

9. I agree

I agree, I would much rather have a single area code for the State of WV.

I don't see why it would be necessary to have more than one area code for a State the size of WV.

Governor Manchin should have rethought this just like he should have rethought about changing the State Slogan from Wild and Wonderful to Open for Business.