Legislature 2008: Area Codes

Lawmakers have started to weigh in on the Public Service Commission's 2-1 decision last week to give northern West Virginia a new area code.

A geographic split "isn't viewed as the most logical option, according to some House of Delegates members," the Charleston Daily Mail reports. "House Majority Whip Mike Caputo, D-Marion, prefers an overlay plan, which would leave all existing telephone numbers unchanged and assign the second area code for any new numbers in the state."

Delegate Craig Blair questioned the decision in a speech during Monday's House floor session. The Berkeley County Republican instead suggested assigning a new area code to cell phone numbers, as is already the practice elsewhere.